Marker and reagent for detection of human il-17-producing helper t cells, and method for detection of human il-17-producing helper t cells

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a marker allowing specific detection of human IL-17-producing helper T-cells (human Th17 cells), a method for specifically detecting human Th17 cells and a reagent for detecting human Th17 cells.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of International Application of PCT/JP2010/062807 with an international filing date of Jul. 29, 2010, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a marker and reagent for detecting human IL-17-producing helper T-cells (hereinafter also referred to as “Th17 cells”) and a method for detecting human Th17 cells.

2. Description of the Related Art

Rheumatoid arthritis (hereinafter referred to as “RA”) is the systemic inflammatory autoimmune disease whose main clinical symptom is arthritis. The state of RA is diagnosed by rational symptoms such as joint pain or by visual procedures such as the observations on the extent of swelling or bone X-ray. However, no quantitative index has been established. Thus, no quantitative method for continuously monitoring the treatment effects has been established under the current state of the art.

The pathogenesis of RA has not been elucidated. It is considered that bacterial infections and the like trigger an inflammation in joint tissues via complicated networks of immunocytes and cytokines.

Helper T-cells play a central role in immune reactions. Immature helper T-cells (naïve T-cells) are differentiated into helper T-cells when an antigen is presented by antigen-presenting cells. When specific cytokines are present at this time, naïve T-cells are differentiated into four types of the cells, which are helper T-cells producing interferon (IFN)-γ (Th1 cells), helper T-cells producing interleukin (IL)-4 (Th2 cells), helper T-cells producing IL-17 (Th17 cells) and regulatory T-cells having immunosuppressive effects (Treg cells).

It has been shown that among these helper T-cells, Th17 cells can be involved in the onset of RA.

It has been suggested that IL-17 is deeply involved in the formation of pathological conditions and in particular joint and bone deformities because the level of IL-17 is significantly higher in synovial fluid of RA patients than in that of the patients of osteoarthritis and T-cells in synovial tissue from RA patients include IL-17 positive cells (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-186046). Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-186046 also discloses that IL-17 can be used as a diagnostic marker of RA.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2007-506100 discloses that the analysis of cytokines in peripheral blood serum of RA patients revealed that the levels of IFN-γ, IL-1β, TNF-α, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-6, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-5 and IL-7 were significantly high and the levels of IL-2, CXCL8/IL-8, IL-12 and CCL2/MCP-1 were not high in RA patients.

According to the studies by Ivanov et al. (“The Orphan Nuclear Receptor RORγt Directs the Differentiation Program of Proinflammatory IL-17+ T Helper Cells”, Cell, 2006, 126, p. 1121-1133), Stumhofer et al. (“Interleukin 27 negatively regulates the development of interleukin 17-producing T helper cells during chronic inflammation of the central nervous system”, Nature Immunology, 2006, vol. 7, p. 937-945), and Wilson et al. (“Development, cytokine profile and function of human interleukin 17-producing helper T cells”, Nature Immunology, 2007, vol. 8, p. 950-95′7), the following facts have been shown about Th17 cells:

a nuclear receptor called RORγt has an important role in the differentiation of Th17 cells;

IL-6, IL-23 and TGF-β induce the differentiation of immature helper T-cells (naïve T-cells) to Th17 cells;

they express IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-6, IL-22, IL-26, TNF, IFN-γ and CCL20; and

IL-23 receptor and IL-12 receptor 13 are located on the surface of Th17 cells.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the above documents by Ivanov et al., Stumhofer et al. and Wilson et al., the amount of IL-17 is measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibodies specific to IL-17.

The relations between Th17 cells and autoimmune diseases, preferably RA may be more deeply understood by establishing a method which allows not only measurement of the amount of IL-17 but also detection of Th17 cells per se.

The present inventors aimed to find molecular markers that allows specific detection of human Th17 cells.

The present inventors isolated Th17 cells from peripheral blood of a healthy adult and identified the genes which are specifically expressed in the obtained Th17 cells, thereby completing the present invention.

Thus, the present invention provides a polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells which is a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of:

genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12 (ADAM metallopeptidase domain 12), ANKS1B (ankyrin repeat and sterile alpha motif domain containing 1B), ATP6VOA4 (ATPase, H+ transporting, lysosomal V0 subunit a4), ATP9A (ATPase, class II, type 9A), BVES (blood vessel epicardial substance), C5orf40 (chromosome 5 open reading frame 40), CDH4 (cadherin 4, type 1, R-cadherin (retinal)), DIO2 (deiodinase, iodothyronine, type II), DMD (dystrophin), GPR34 (G protein-coupled receptor 34), IRS2 (insulin receptor substrate 2), KCNE3 (potassium voltage-gated channel, Isk-related family, member 3), L1CAM (L1 cell adhesion molecule), MCAM (melanoma cell adhesion molecule), MFAP3L (microfibrillar-associated protein 3-like), MYO7A (myosin VIIA), PTPRM (protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, M), SHROOM2 (shroom family member 2), SLC16A4 (solute carrier family 16, member 4 (monocarboxylic acid transporter 5)), SLCO2B1 (solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 2B1), TANC2 (tetratricopeptide repeat, ankyrin repeat and coiled-coil containing 2), TJP1 (tight junction protein 1 (zona occludens 1)), TMEM163 (transmembrane protein 163), TNS3 (tensin 3), UPK1B (uroplakin 1B), WDFY3 (WD repeat and FYVE domain containing 3), DRD2 (dopamine receptor D2), GJC1 (gap junction protein, gamma 1, 45 kDa), PGBD5 (LOC100134440) (piggyBac transposable element derived 5 (similar to PGBD5 protein)), MS4A 7 (membrane-spanning 4-domains, subfamily A, member 7), ODZ4 (odz, odd Oz/ten-m homolog 4), PHKA1 (phosphorylase kinase, alpha 1), RGS1 (regulator of G-protein signaling 1), SHB (Src homology 2 domain containing adaptor protein B), SLC44A3 (solute carrier family 44, member 3), SLC6A15 (solute carrier family 6 (neutral amino acid transporter), member 15), SYNGR3 (synaptogyrin 3), AKAP12 (A kinase (PRKA) anchor protein 12), C9orf125 (chromosome 9 open reading frame 125), DPY19L2 (dpy-19-like 2), HRH4 (histamine receptor H4), MUC20 (mucin 20, cell surface associated), POPDC3 (popeye domain containing 3), SORBS1 (sorbin and SH3 domain containing 1), TANC1 (tetratricopeptide repeat, ankyrin repeat and coiled-coil containing 1), TMEM44 (transmembrane protein 44) and UNC13C (unc-13 homolog C);

genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: CXCL13 (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 13), PCOLCE2 (procollagen C-endopeptidase enhancer 2), PNOC (prepronociceptin), SMPDL3A (sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase, acid-like 3A), TGFBI (transforming growth factor, beta-induced), C17orf99 (chromosome 17 open reading frame 99), EBI3 (Epstein-Barr virus induced 3), IL1A (interleukin 1, alpha) and WNT3 (wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 3);

genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of: BCAT1 (branched chain aminotransferase 1, cytosolic), BHLHE22 (basic helix-loop-helix family, member e22), C13orf18 (LOC728970) (chromosome 13 open reading frame 18 (hypothetical LOC728970)), CA2 (carbonic anhydrase II), CCDC3 (coiled-coil domain containing 3), CDS1 (CDP-diacylglycerol synthase (phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase) 1), CHN1 (chimerin (chimaerin) 1), CLIC5 (LOC100131610) (chloride intracellular channel 5 (similar to chloride intracellular channel 5)), CTSH (cathepsin H), CYP7B1 (cytochrome P450, family 7, subfamily B, polypeptide 1), DAPK2 (death-associated protein kinase 2), DMRT1 (doublesex and mab-3 related transcription factor 1), DSE (dermatan sulfate epimerase), FBXL17 (F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 17), FBXL21 (F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 21), FHOD3 (formin homology 2 domain containing 3), H2AFY2 (H2A histone family, member Y2), HLX (H2.0-like homeobox), IRAK3 (interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 3), MACC1 (metastasis associated in colon cancer 1), MAML3 (mastermind-like 3), MYO10 (myosin X), OTUB2 (OTU domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 2), PAPSS2 (3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphosulfate synthase 2), PCBP3 (Poly (rC) binding protein 3 (PCBP3), transcript variant 2), PDE4DIP (phosphodiesterase 4D interacting protein), PLD1 (phospholipase D1, phosphatidylcholine-specific), PPARG (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma), PTPN13 (Protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 13 (APO-1/CD95 (Fas)-associated phosphatase)), RGS18 (regulator of G-protein signaling 18), SIM1 (single-minded homolog 1), SNAI2 (snail homolog 2), SOX2 (SRY (sex determining region Y)-box 2), SPIRE1 (spire homolog 1), TBC1D12 (TBC1 domain family, member 12), TGM5 (transglutaminase 5), TMOD1 (tropomodulin 1), TUBB6 (tubulin, beta 6), DDIT4L (DNA-damage-inducible transcript 4-like), DHRS9 (dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR family) member 9), ERC2 (ELKS/RAB6-interacting/CAST family member 2), FERMT2 (fermitin family homolog 2), HHEX (hematopoietically expressed homeobox), HS3ST1 (heparan sulfate (glucosamine) 3-O-sulfotransferase 1), NR5A2 (nuclear receptor subfamily 5, group A, member 2), PHLDA1 (pleckstrin homology-like domain, family A, member 1), RBM20 (RNA binding motif protein 20), NINL (ninein-like), RTN2 (reticulon 2), SH3RF2 (SH3 domain containing ring finger 2), TSHZ2 (teashirt zinc finger homeobox 2), EML1 (echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 1), HIST1H2BC (histone cluster 1, H2bc), MAP3K4 (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 4), PDK4 (pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4), RGS2 (regulator of G-protein signaling 2) and RGS20 (regulator of G-protein signaling 20);

genes consisting of: C1orf106 (chromosome 1 open reading frame 106), C6orf145 (chromosome 6 open reading frame 145), LOC401097 (Similar to LOC166075), MAMLD1 (mastermind-like domain containing 1), ZC3H12C (zinc finger CCCH-type containing 12C), C12orf64 (chromosome 12 open reading frame 64), C6orf168 (chromosome 6 open reading frame 168), CAMSAP1L1 (calmodulin regulated spectrin-associated protein 1-like 1) and MAGED4 (MAGED4B) (melanoma antigen family D, 4, (melanoma antigen family D, 4B)); and

genes comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs:147 to 151, 157 to 162 and 167 to 174;

or a variant and fragment thereof.

The present invention also provides a protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells which is a protein encoded by at least one of the above genes or a functionally equivalent variant and fragment thereof.

The present invention further provides a method for detecting human Th17 cells comprising detecting the presence of at least one polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells or at least one protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells in a sample containing cells derived from human.

In addition, the present invention provides a reagent for detecting human Th17 cells comprising at least one substance selected from a nucleic acid probe which specifically hybridizes to the above polynucleotide marker; and a nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor which specifically binds to the above protein marker.

Human Th17 cells can be specifically detected by detecting at least one polynucleotide marker or protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells of the present invention. It may also allow detection of the possibility that a patient has a disease in which Th17 cells may be involved such as autoimmune diseases, e.g. RA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows graphs of the expression levels of the genes which are known to be specifically expressed in Th17 cells (IL23R, IL17A, IL17F, IL22, IL26 and RORC) in Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 cells;

FIG. 2 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of MCAM measurement samples;

FIG. 3 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of PTPRM measurement samples;

FIG. 4 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of GPR34 measurement samples;

FIG. 5 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of CCR6 measurement samples;

FIG. 6 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of IL-17A measurement samples;

FIG. 7 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of IFN-γ measurement samples;

FIG. 8 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of IL-4 measurement samples; and

FIG. 9 shows histograms of fluorescent intensity obtained by the analysis of FOXP3 measurement samples.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells of the present invention is the polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of the above genes, or a variant and fragment thereof.

Preferably, the polynucleotide has a nucleic acid sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of:

genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BITES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, GPR34, L1CAM, MCAM, PTPRM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3 and UNC13C;

genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI and IL1A; and

genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of: BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2.

The present polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells is the polynucleotide, variant or fragment thereof which has been found to be specifically present in Th17 cells rather than in other helper T-cells derived from human peripheral blood (Th1, Th2 and Treg cells).

Therefore, by detecting at least one of the above polynucleotide markers, Th17 cells can be distinguished from Th1, Th2 and Treg cells and specifically identified, and an index for activity of diseases in vivo can be studied in which Th17 cells may be involved.

As used herein, the term “gene” has the same meaning as that is commonly recognized in the art, and refers to a part of a genome which is transcribed into mRNA and translated into a protein.

In the present specification, genes containing at least one nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 147 to 151, 157 to 162 and 167 to 174 are the genes to be transcribed into mRNAs containing at least one of these nucleic acid sequences or a complementary sequence thereof. Thus, genes containing at least one nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 147 to 151, 157 to 162 and 167 to 174 comprise genes containing a nucleic acid sequence complementary to at least one nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 147 to 151, 157 to 162 and 167 to 174.

As used herein, a membrane protein means a protein existing in a cell membrane and being contained in a membrane fraction of cells. A secretory protein means a protein synthesized in cells and secreted to the outside of the cell membrane. An intracellular protein means a protein which is mainly present in cells.

As used herein, the phrase that a polynucleotide is “specifically expressed” in Th17 cells means that the expression level of the polynucleotide in Th17 cells is significantly higher than the expression level of the polynucleotide in cells other than Th17 cells.

Specifically, it means that the expression level of the polynucleotide in Th17 cells is about two times or more of the expression level of the polynucleotide in cells other than Th17 cells. Preferably, the expression level of the polynucleotide in Th17 cells is about two times or more of the expression level of the polynucleotide in helper T-cells other than Th17 cells (Th1, Th2 and Treg cells).

The nucleotide sequences of the present polynucleotide markers are already known. They can be obtained from, for example, Unigene (a database provided by National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) of National Library of Medicine). Unigene codes for the nucleic acid sequences of the present polynucleotide markers are specified in Table 9.

As used herein, “variant” of a polynucleotide means a polynucleotide into which a mutation has been introduced that does not alter the nature of the protein encoded by the above gene. Such mutation includes a deletion, substitution or addition of one or more nucleotides to the nucleic acid sequence of the above gene.

As used herein, “fragment” of a polynucleotide means a polynucleotide having a contiguous part of the nucleic acid sequence of the above gene and having a length which allows its specific hybridization with a nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells described hereinafter.

The variant of the polynucleotide as the present polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells has generally at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, further preferably at least 90% and particularly preferably at least 95% homology with the nucleic acid sequence of the above gene.

As used herein, the homology of nucleic acid and amino acid sequences is calculated in BLASTN, BLASTP, BLASTX or TBLASTN (e.g. available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) with default settings.

The polynucleotide marker may be any of DNA or RNA, and may be the gene per se (DNA), mRNA, cDNA or cRNA.

Human Th17 cells can also be detected by detecting at least one protein encoded by the above gene. Thus, the present invention also provides the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells consisting of the protein encoded by at least one of the above genes or a functionally equivalent variant and fragment thereof.

Preferably, the above protein is encoded by at least one gene selected from the group consisting of:

genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, GPR34, L1CAM, MCAM, PTPRM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3 and UNC13C;

genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI and IL1A; and

genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of: BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2.

More preferably, the above protein is a membrane protein encoded by at least one gene selected from the group consisting of GPR34, MCAM and PTPRM.

The amino acid sequence of such protein marker can be obtained based on the nucleic acid sequence of the polynucleotide marker obtained from Unigene and the like. It can also be obtained from databases provided by NCBI and the like. NCBI code numbers for the amino acid sequences of the present protein markers for detecting human Th17 cells are specified in Table 9.

The protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells is the protein encoded by the above gene, a functionally equivalent variant or fragment thereof.

As used herein, “functionally equivalent variant” of a protein means a protein into which a mutation has been introduced that does not alter functions of the protein. Such mutation includes a deletion, substitution or addition of one or more amino acids to the known amino acid sequence of the protein.

As used herein, “fragment” of a protein means a protein having a contiguous amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by the above gene or a functionally equivalent variant thereof and being able to specifically bind to a nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor for detecting human Th17 cells described hereinafter.

The functionally equivalent variant of the protein corresponding to the present protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells has generally at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, more preferably at least about 90% and particularly preferably at least 95% homology with the known amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by the above gene.

A molecule that can specifically hybridize to the present polynucleotide marker can be used for detection of the marker, making it useful as a probe for detecting human Th17 cells. The probe may be a nucleic acid probe such as DNA or RNA, or a peptide probe that can specifically hybridize to the polynucleotide marker. The probe for detecting human Th17 cells is preferably a nucleic acid probe, particularly a DNA probe for detecting the polynucleotide marker.

As used herein, the phrase “can specifically hybridize” means that it can hybridize to a target nucleic acid molecule (the polynucleotide marker) under a stringent condition.

As used herein, “stringent condition” means a condition under which the probe for detecting human Th17 cells can hybridize to the target polynucleotide marker with a detectably higher extent than it does to a polynucleotide other than the target polynucleotide marker (e.g. more than at least two times of the background).

The stringent condition generally depends on the sequences and varies depending on various circumstances. Generally, the stringent condition is selected so that it is about 5° C. lower than a thermal melting point of the specific sequence under a certain ionic strength and pH. This Tm is a temperature at which 50% of the complementary probe hybridizes to the target sequence in equilibrium (under a certain ionic strength, pH and nucleic acid composition).

Such condition may be those which are used in conventional hybridization techniques between polynucleotides such as PCR, microarray or Southern blotting.

Specifically, it may be a condition of pH 7.0 to 9.0, a salt concentration of lower than about 1.5M Na-ion, more specifically about 0.01 to 1.0 M Na-ion concentration (or other salt) and a temperature of at least about 30° C. More specifically, the stringent condition in microarray technique includes the hybridization at 37° C. in 50% formamide, 1M NaCl and 1% SDS and washing at 60 to 65° C. in 0.1×SSC.

The stringent condition in PCR technique includes a condition of pH 7 to 9, 0.01 to 0.1 M Tris-HCl, 0.05 to 0.15 M potassium ion concentration (or other salt) and at least about 55° C.

The sequence of the nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells can be appropriately selected by a person skilled in the art based on the common technical knowledge in the art and the sequence of the polynucleotide marker so that it can specifically hybridize to the polynucleotide marker.

The nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells can be designed by using, for example, a commonly available primer designing software (e.g. Primer3 (available from http://frodo.wi.mit.edu/cgi-bin/primer3/primer3.cgi) or DNASIS Pro (Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd.)).

The nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells can be prepared according to polynucleotide synthesis methods which are well-known in the art.

The nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells may be labeled with a labeling substance normally used in the art. The labeled nucleic acid probe allows an easy detection of the polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells, namely of human Th17 cells.

The labeling substance may be a labeling substance generally used in the art including radioisotopes such as ³²P, fluorescent substances such as fluorescein, enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase, and biotin.

Human Th17 cells can be specifically detected by using one or more nucleic acid probes for detecting human Th17 cells. For example, a DNA chip or microarray for detecting the polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells can be obtained by immobilizing one or more probes on a substrate according to a method well-known in the art.

The nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells may include a set of two or more primers for amplifying the polynucleotide marker by nucleic acid amplification methods such as PCR technique, for example.

A molecule that can specifically bind to the present protein marker can be used for the detection of the marker, making it useful in the detection of human Th17 cells. Such molecule may be a nucleic acid aptamer such as DNA or RNA, an antibody, a ligand or a receptor that can specifically bind to the present protein marker, and preferably an antibody.

When the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells is an enzyme, it can be detected by applying a substrate for the enzyme to develop color or emit light or fluorescent.

The antibody for detecting human Th17 cells can be prepared by the following well-known procedure, for example. A DNA molecule encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence of the present protein marker is prepared based on the nucleic acid sequence of the present polynucleotide marker or the amino acid sequence of the present protein marker, and is introduced into an appropriate expression vector. The obtained expression vector is introduced into an appropriate host cells, and the obtained transformed cells are cultured to obtain a desired protein. The obtained protein is purified and used as an immunogen optionally with an adjuvant to immunize an appropriate mammal such as rat or mouse. Spleen cells of the immunized animals are screened for antibody producing cells that produce an antibody directed to the target immunogen. The selected antibody producing cells are fused with myeloma cells to obtain hybridomas. These hybridomas are screened for antibody producing hybridomas that produce an antibody having specific binding property to the protein encoded by the gene. The desired antibody can be obtained by culturing the obtained antibody producing hybridomas.

The nucleic acid aptamer that can be used for detecting human Th17 cells can be prepared by the following well-known procedure, for example. A nucleic acid library including random nucleic acid sequences is prepared according to the known technique, and an aptamer that specifically binds to the target protein (the protein marker) can be selected by the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment method (SELEX method) or the like.

The molecule which can specifically bind to the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells may be labeled with a labeling substance normally used in the art. The labeled antibody for detecting human Th17 cells allows an easy detection of the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells, namely of human Th17 cells.

The labeling substance may be a labeling substance generally used in the art including radioisotopes such as ³²P, fluorescent substances such as fluorescein, enzymes such as alkaline phosphatase and horseradish peroxidase, and biotin.

A method for detecting human Th17 cells by detecting the presence of at least one polynucleotide or protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells in a sample containing cells derived from human is also within the scope of the present invention.

In the method, it is preferred that two or more polynucleotide markers or protein markers for detecting human Th17 cells are detected in order to improve the detection sensitivity.

In the present method, the sample containing cells derived from human includes a biological sample obtained from human or a sample containing cultured human cells. The biological sample includes blood, tissue, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, ascitic fluid and the like.

An embodiment of the method for detecting the presence of the polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells is described.

Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) is extracted from a sample containing cells derived from human by a well-known method in the art such as the one using a phenolic extraction and ethanol precipitation or a commercial DNA extraction kit.

Then, the presence of the polynucleotide marker in the obtained nucleic acid sample is detected, preferably using the nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells. When the presence of the polynucleotide marker is detected by nucleic acid amplification method such as PCR, RT-PCR, real-time PCR, LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal amplification) and the like, the nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells is preferably a primer set for amplifying the polynucleotide marker by a nucleic acid amplification method.

The presence of the polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells may also be detected by well-known methods in the art, for example hybridization methods such as Southern hybridization, Northern hybridization, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), or DNA chip or microarray. Such methods are carried out under the stringent condition, and the hybridization of the nucleic acid probe for detecting human Th17 cells is detected by detecting the labeling substance and the like to detect the presence of the polynucleotide marker.

An embodiment of the method for detecting the presence of the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells is described.

When the target protein marker is an intracellular protein, proteins are extracted from a sample containing cells derived from human by using well-known methods in the art. The extraction of proteins from a sample can be accomplished by known methods such as disruption of the cells by ultrasonic, lysis of the cells with a cell lysis solution. The protein marker in the obtained protein extract can be detected by using the molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker.

Specifically, the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells can be detected by well-known methods in the art such as ELISA or Western blotting. The molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker in the detection is preferably the above nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor, and more preferably the antibody for detecting human Th17 cells.

When the target protein marker is a secretory protein, the protein marker secreted in the sample containing the cells can be detected by using the molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker.

Alternatively, the cells (lymphocytes) are recovered from the sample containing the cells from human and the obtained cells are stimulated with anti-CD3 antibody, anti-CD28 antibody, concanavalin A, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), ionomycin or the like. Then, the secreted protein marker can be detected by using the molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker.

Specifically, the protein marker can be detected by well-known methods in the art such as ELISA or Western blotting. The molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker in the detection is preferably the above nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor, and more preferably the antibody for detecting human Th17 cells.

When the target protein marker is a protein located on the cell surface, the protein marker located on the cell surface in the sample containing the cells derived from human can be detected by using the molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker.

Alternatively, a membrane fraction of the cells is obtained from the sample containing the cells derived from human and the protein marker in the membrane fraction can be detected by using the molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker. Specifically, the protein marker can be detected by well-known methods in the art such as ELISA, Western blotting or a method based on flow cytometry (FCM). The molecule which specifically binds to the protein marker in the detection is preferably the above nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor, and more preferably the antibody for detecting human Th17 cells.

For example, the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells can be detected by FCM as follows.

First, the sample containing the cells derived from human is brought into contact with the antibody for detecting human Th17 cells labeled with an appropriate labeling substance. Human Th17 cells, when exist, bind to the labeled antibody on their surfaces. Then, the sample containing the cells bound to the labeling substance can be applied to a flow cytometer to detect human Th17 cells. Human Th17 cells that have bound to the labeling substance can optionally be classified and fractionated by using a cell sorter.

Such method of FCM is well-known to a person skilled in the art and he can appropriately select the reaction conditions.

The present invention also provides a reagent for detecting human Th17 cells which can be used in the present method for detecting human Th17 cells

The reagent comprises at least one substance selected from a nucleic acid probe which specifically hybridizes to the polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells, and a nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand and receptor which specifically binds to the protein marker for detecting human Th17 cells.

The present invention is now described in detail by way of Examples, which do not limit the present invention.

Example 1 Analysis of Highly Expressed Genes in Cultured Th17 Cells Derived from Human Peripheral Blood

1. Isolation of Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 Cells from Human Peripheral blood (1) Isolation of Th1, Th2 and Th17 Cells from Human Peripheral Blood

Buffy coat obtained from peripheral blood of a healthy adult was overlaid on Ficoll-paque plus solution (GE Healthcare Bioscience) and centrifuged to obtain a monocyte fraction. Crude CD4 positive cells were purified from the fraction by using magnetic beads bound to anti-CD4 antibody (Miltenyi Biotec).

The obtained CD4 positive cells were stained with the fluorescence labeled antibodies shown in Table 1 and then Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells were separated by a cell sorter (FACS Aria: Becton Dickinson). The separation was carried out with the gating shown in Table 2.

TABLE 1 Fluorescence Antigen labeling substance Clone Manufacturer CD4 APC-Cy7 RPA-T4 BD Biosciences CD25 PE-Cy7 BC96 eBioscience CXCR3 Alexa Fluor ™ 488 1C6/CXCR3 BD Biosciences CCR4 APC FAB1567A R&D systems CCR6 PE 11A9 BD Biosciences

TABLE 2 Cell Gating Th1 CD4^(high) CD25^(low-negative) CXCR3⁺ CCR6⁻ CCR4⁻ Th2 CD4^(high) CD25^(low-negative) CXCR3⁻ CCR6⁻ CCR4⁺ Th17 CD4^(high) CD25^(low-negative) CXCR3⁻ CCR6⁺ CCR4⁺

The above gating is described in detail in the reference by Acosta-Rodriguez E V et al. (Surface phenotype and antigenic specificity of human interleukin 17-producing T helper memory cells., Nat. Immunol., 2007, vol. 8, p. 639-646).

(2) Isolation of Treg Cells from Human Peripheral Blood

CD4 positive cells obtained in the same manner as the above (1) were stained with the fluorescence labeled antibodies shown in Table 3, and CD4high CD25high CD127internal-negative cells were purified as Treg cells by using the above cell sorter.

TABLE 3 Fluorescence Antigen labeling substance Clone Manufacturer CD4 FITC OKT4 eBioscience CD25 PE-Cy7 BC96 eBioscience CD45RO PE UCHL1 BioLegend CD127 Alexa Fluor ™ 647 HIL-7R-M21 BD Biosciences

The above gating is described in detail in the reference by Weihong Liu et al. (CD127 expression inversely correlates with FoxP3 and suppressive function of human CD4+ T reg cells., J Exp Med. 2006, vol. 203, p. 1701-1711).

2. Cell Culture

(1) Th1, Th2 and Th17 Cell Cultures

Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells derived from adult peripheral blood obtained in the above step 1. (1) were respectively plated in a 96-well plate at the density of 1.5×10⁵ cells/0.3 ml/well. The medium used was Yssel medium (IMDM, 1% human serum of AB-type, 0.25% BSA, 1.8 mg/l 2-aminomethanol, 40 mg/l transferrin, 5 mg/l insulin, 2 mg/l linoleic acid, 2 mg/l oleic acid, 2 mg/l palmitic acid, 1% penicillin/streptomycin).

For activation and proliferation of the above cells, magnetic beads coated with anti-CD2/3/28 antibody (Miltenyi Biotec) (hereinafter also referred to as “antibody beads”) were added at 0.75×10⁵ per well. After addition of cytokines and neutralizing antibody(s) suitable for differentiation culture of respective Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells, cells were incubated in an incubator at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. Cytokines and neutralizing antibodies used are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Cell Cytokine Neutralizing antibody (Clone) Th1 IL-12, IL-2 Anti-IL-4 antibody (MP4-25D2) Th2 IL-4, IL-2 Anti-IFN-γ antibody (R4-6A2) Th17 TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-23, Anti-IL-4 antibody (MP4-25D2), IL-21, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-2 Anti-IFN-γ antibody (R4-6A2)

The concentrations of the above cytokines were 50 ng/ml for IL-6 and 10 ng/ml for other than IL-6.

The concentrations of antibodies were 10 μg/ml for anti-IFN-γ antibody and 2.5 μg/ml for anti-IL-4 antibody. The cytokines and neutralizing antibodies were obtained from R&D systems and eBioscience, respectively.

After three days from the start of culture, cells were diluted three-fold with the medium containing the above cytokines and antibody(s) and cultured for further seven days (10 days in total).

After ten days from the start of culture, the obtained Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells were respectively divided into two equal parts, and one was washed with Yssel medium and PBS before centrifugation to collect cells, which were stored at −80° C. until the subsequent RNA extraction step. These cells were designated as Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”. The other half was added with the antibody beads and cultured for three more hours to re-activate the cells. The cells were collected by centrifugation and similarly stored at −80° C. These cells were designated as Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells “with activation stimulation”.

(2) Treg Cell Culture

Treg cells obtained in the above step 1. (2) were cultured in the same manner in Yssel medium as the above step 2. (1) and activated with the antibody beads. To the medium were added cytokines IL-2 and TGF-β1 (R&D systems), and neutralizing antibodies anti-IFN-γ antibody, anti-IL-4 antibody (eBioscience) and anti-IL-6 antibody (BD Bioscience).

These cytokines and neutralizing antibodies were used at the concentrations of 10 ng/ml and 5 μg/ml, respectively.

After three days from the start of culture, cells were added with the cytokines and neutralizing antibodies at the same amounts as those at the start of the culture. After culturing for three more days, cells were divided into two equal parts, one half was not added with the antibody beads used for activation and the other half was added with the antibody beads before culturing further three hours, thereby obtaining Treg cells “without activation stimulation” and Treg cells “with activation stimulation”, respectively. The cells were then collected by centrifugation and stored at −80° C. until the subsequent RNA extraction step.

3. Extraction of Total RNA

The cells obtained as the above step 2. were subjected to extraction of total RNAs using RNeasy Plus Mini kit and RNeasy micro kit (QIAGEN).

The specific procedures were according to the attached instructions of the kits.

4. Expression Analysis by Microarray

Total RNAs (10 to 100 ng) extracted from the cells as the above step 3. were reverse-transcribed to cDNAs with Two-Cycle Target Labeling and Control Reagents (Affymetrix), and further transcribed to biotinylated-cRNAs. The amplified biotinylated-cRNAs (20 μg) were fragmented. The specific procedures were according to the attached instruction of the kit.

The biotinylated-cRNAs derived from the cells as obtained above (15 μg) were applied to GeneChip Human Genome U-133 Plus 2.0 Array (Affymetrix) as samples, transferred to GeneChip Hybridization Oven 640 (Affymetrix) and hybridized under the conditions of 45° C. and 60 rpm for 16 hours.

After completion of the hybridization, the microarray was washed and fluorescence-labeled in GeneChip Fluidic Station 450 (Affymetrix), and scanned in GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G (Affymetrix) to obtain fluorescent intensity data.

5. Selection of Genes Specifically Expressed in Human Th17 Cells

The fluorescent data obtained in the above step 4. was standardized with the expression analysis software GeneSpring Ver.10 (Agilent Technologies) based on MAS5 algorithm. Relative fluorescent intensities of the genes from Th17 cells were compared with those from Th1, Th2 and Treg cells.

The genes whose relative fluorescent intensities in Th17 cells were three or more times higher than any of those of Th1, Th2 and Treg cells and which were significantly expressed (which showed “p value <0.05” after ANOVA test between four groups of relative fluorescent intensities in Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 cells) were identified as the genes which were specifically expressed in Th17 cells.

The number of samples used in the above selection step is shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Th1 Th2 Th17 Treg w/ activation stimulation 5 5 5 4 w/o activation stimulation 5 5 5 3

The genes specifically expressed in Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” and “with activation stimulation” are shown in Tables 6 and 7, respectively.

TABLE 6 Without activation stimulation Expression ratio Location of Entrez Protein Transcript UniGene Probe Set Th17/ encoded protein Gene symbol Gene ID ID ID ID ID Th1 Th17/Th2 Th17/Treg Membrane ADAM12 8038 NP_003465, NM_003474, Hs.594537 202952_s_at 21.8 80.1 3.2 NP_067673 NM_021641 ANKS1B 56899 NP_064525, NM_020140, Hs.506458 227439_at 6.9 11.7 4.3 NP_690001, NM_152788, 240292_x_at 7.8 10.3 4.6 NP_858056 NM_181670 ATP6V0A4 50617 NP_065683, NM_020632, Hs.98967 220197_at 22.8 244.1 153.8 NP_570855, NM_130840, NP_570856 NM_130841 ATP9A 10079 NP_006036 NM_006045 Hs.714307 212062_at 5.7 53.5 44.3 BVES 11149 NP_009004, NM_007073, Hs.221660 228783_at 3.0 6.5 16.2 NP_671488 NM_147147 C5orf40 408263 NP_001001343 NM_001001343 Hs.437066 1554801_at 9.4 12.8 3.1 CDH4 1002 NP_001785 NM_001794 Hs.473231 206866_at 19.2 16.0 7.6 DIO2 1734 NP_000784, NM_000793, Hs.202354 203700_s_at 9.2 3.4 17.1 NP_001007024, NM_001007023, NP_054644 NM_013989 DMD 1756 NP_000100, NM_000109, Hs.495912 203881_s_at 10.3 3.2 10.0 NP_003997, NM_004006, NP_003998, NM_004007, NP_004000, NM_004009, NP_004001, NM_004010, NP_004002, NM_004011, NP_004003, NM_004012, NP_004004, NM_004013, NP_004005, NM_004014, NP_004006, NM_004015, NP_004007, NM_004016, NP_004008, NM_004017, NP_004009, NM_004018, NP_004010, NM_004019, NP_004011, NM_004020, NP_004012, NM_004021, NP_004013, NM_004022, NP_004014 NM_004023 Membrane DRD2 1813 NP_000786, NM_000795, Hs.73893 216938_x_at 5.3 5.6 5.4 NP_057658 NM_016574 GJC1 10052 NP_001073852, NM_001080383, Hs.532593 228776_at 7.0 10.7 4.9 NP_005488 NM_005497 243502_at 3.8 10.5 8.3 GPR34 2857 NP_001091048, NM_001097579, Hs.495989 223620_at 4.2 7.9 7.0 NP_005291 NM_005300 IL23R 149233 NP_653302 NM_144701 Hs.677426 1552912_a_at 8.2 15.3 4.1 IRS2 8660 NP_003740 NM_003749 Hs.442344 209184_s_at 3.5 4.0 3.3 209185_s_at 6.0 5.9 4.3 KCNE3 10008 NP_005463 NM_005472 Hs.523899 227647_at 9.8 8.3 5.9 L1CAM 3897 NP_000416, NM_000425, Hs.522818 204584_at 8.5 9.4 5.1 NP_076493 NM_024003 PGBD5, 79605, NP_078830, NM_024554, Hs.520463 219225_at 9.9 17.3 11.3 LOC100134440 100134440 XP_001716155 XM_001716103 MCAM 4162 NP_006491 NM_006500 Hs.599039 210869_s_at 9.5 18.0 5.6 MFAP3L 9848 NP_001009554, NM_001009554, Hs.593942 205442_at 11.5 29.9 7.1 NP_067679 NM_021647 MS4A7 58475 NP_067024, NM_021201, Hs.530735 223343_at 16.6 11.7 3.2 NP_996821, NM_206938, NP_996822, NM_206939, NP_996823 NM_206940 MYO7A 4647 NP_000251, NM_000260, Hs.370421 208189_s_at 19.4 22.9 6.5 NP_001120651, NM_001127179, NP_001120652 NM_001127180 ODZ4 26011 NP_001092286 NM_001098816 Hs.213087 213273_at 9.8 13.1 7.0 PHKA1 5255 NP_001116142, NM_001122670, Hs.201379 229876_at 4.2 3.7 15.8 NP_002628 NM_002637 PTPRM 5797 NP_001098714, NM_001105244, Hs.49774 1555579_s_at 3.6 76.0 3.7 NP_002836 NM_002845 RGS1 5996 NP_002913 NM_002922 Hs.75256 202988_s_at 3.3 3.6 3.9 SHB 6461 NP_003019 NM_003028 Hs.521482 1557458_s_at 14.9 27.8 7.4 SHROOM2 357 NP_001640 NM_001649 Hs.567236 204967_at 3.4 3.4 3.4 SLC16A4 9122 NP_004687 NM_004696 Hs.351306 205234_at 66.3 20.4 3.4 SLC44A3 126969 NP_001107578, NM_001114106, Hs.483423 228221_at 3.1 9.3 3.5 NP_689582 NM_152369 Membrane SLC6A15 55117 NP_060527, NM_018057, Hs.44424 206376_at 10.7 11.9 15.2 NP_877499 NM_182767 SLCO2B1 11309 NP_009187 NM_007256 Hs.7884 203473_at 9.7 6.0 6.8 SYNGR3 9143 NP_004200 NM_004209 Hs.435277 205691_at 4.7 7.9 5.5 TANC2 26115 NP_079461 NM_025185 Hs.410889 208425_s_at 4.7 9.0 7.3 224952_at 6.1 5.8 7.5 TJP1 7082 NP_003248, NM_003257, Hs.716406 202011_at 15.3 19.2 4.3 NP_783297 NM_175610 TMEM163 81615 NP_112185 NM_030923 Hs.369471 1552626_a_at 16.1 32.5 16.4 223503_at 28.8 47.9 29.7 TNS3 64759 NP_073585 NM_022748 Hs.520814 217853_at 7.6 158.8 4.5 UPK1B 7348 NP_008883 NM_006952 Hs.271580 210065_s_at 5.8 7.5 4.6 WDFY3 23001 NP_055806, NM_014991, Hs.480116 212598_at 14.2 18.4 45.6 NP_848698, NM_178583, 212602_at 18.7 56.1 29.3 NP_848700 NM_178585 212606_at 23.0 82.7 71.7 Extracellular/ C17orf99 100141515 NP_001156547 NM_001163075 Hs.633034 236981_at 29.1 10.9 4.1 secreted CXCL13 10563 NP_006410 NM_006419 Hs.100431 205242_at 57.7 20.1 4.6 EBI3 10148 NP_005746 NM_005755 Hs.501452 219424_at 3.6 43.8 3.7 IL17A 3605 NP_002181 NM_002190 Hs.41724 216876_s_at 340.3 618.9 21.8 IL17F 112744 NP_443104 NM_052872 Hs.272295 234408_at 559.0 778.4 525.7 IL1A 3552 NP_000566 NM_000575 Hs.1722 210118_s_at 38.1 13.8 6.5 IL22 50616 NP_065386 NM_020525 Hs.287369 222974_at 7.5 26.0 13.6 IL26 55801 NP_060872 NM_018402 Hs.272350 221111_at 11.6 13.5 53.7 IL9 3578 NP_000581 NM_000590 Hs.960 208193_at 103.8 193.5 24.1 PCOLCE2 26577 NP_037495 NM_013363 Hs.8944 219295_s_at 10.6 16.8 25.3 PNOC 5368 NP_006219 NM_006228 Hs.88218 205901_at 36.8 27.3 69.3 SMPDL3A 10924 NP_006705 NM_006714 Hs.486357 213624_at 4.0 3.8 7.9 TGFBI 7045 NP_000349 NM_000358 Hs.369397 201506_at 54.7 476.7 33.8 WNT3 7473 NP_110380 NM_030753 Hs.445884 229103_at 6.6 5.9 6.2 Intracellular BCAT1 586 NP_005495 NM_005504 Hs.438993 214390_s_at 3.1 4.1 18.9 214452_at 3.5 6.4 24.8 225285_at 3.0 3.5 31.5 226517_at 3.1 3.5 38.3 BHLHE22 27319 NP_689627 NM_152414 Hs.591870 228636_at 18.9 24.7 40.5 Intracellular C13orf18, 80183, NP_079389, NM_025113, Hs.98117 44790_s_at 3.2 11.2 32.0 LOC728970 728970 XP_001132115, XM_001132115, XP_001133896, XM_001133896, XP_001720207 XM_001720155 CA2 760 NP_000058 NM_000067 Hs.155097 209301_at 6.3 452.7 103.6 CCDC3 83643 NP_113643 NM_031455 Hs.498720 223316_at 16.3 106.1 42.1 CDS1 1040 NP_001254 NM_001263 Hs.654899 205709_s_at 13.9 26.7 3.8 CHN1 1123 NP_001020372, NM_001025201, Hs.654534 212624_s_at 6.9 12.3 6.4 NP_001813 NM_001822 CLIC5, 53405, NP_001107558, NM_001114086 Hs.485489 213317_at 6.7 53.5 13.3 LOC100131610 100131610 NP_058625, NM_016929, 217628_at 3.1 9.1 4.2 XP_001723610 XM_001723558 243917_at 13.9 56.8 16.7 219866_at 7.1 28.2 17.8 CTSH 1512 NP_004381, NM_004390, Hs.148641 202295_s_at 4.7 10.4 5.6 NP_683880 NM_148979 CYP7B1 9420 NP_004811 NM_004820 Hs.667720 207386_at 12.3 10.2 4.1 DAPK2 23604 NP_055141 NM_014326 Hs.237886 206324_s_at 7.3 9.9 8.3 215184_at 6.3 11.0 7.1 DDIT4L 115265 NP_660287 NM_145244 Hs.480378 228057_at 3.1 5.2 106.8 DHRS9 10170 NP_001135742, NM_001142270, Hs.179608 219799_s_at 8.3 14.6 11.9 NP_001135743, NM_001142271, 223952_x_at 5.3 7.8 7.7 NP_005762, NM_005771, 224009_x_at 6.3 7.9 7.0 NP_954674 NM_199204 DMRT1 1761 NP_068770 NM_021951 Hs.98586 220493_at 3.6 16.6 6.4 DSE 29940 NP_001074445, NM_001080976, Hs.486292 218854_at 13.9 41.8 26.2 NP_037484 NM_013352 ERC2 26059 NP_056391 NM_015576 Hs.476389 213938_at 3.5 6.1 6.1 FBXL17 64839 NP_073735 NM_022824 Hs.657225 227203_at 8.9 7.7 4.7 FBXL21 26223 NP_036291 NM_012159 Hs.591275 1555412_at 22.9 29.2 13.0 FERMT2 10979 NP_001128471, NM_001134999, Hs.509343 209210_s_at 3.1 9.5 5.8 NP_001128472, NM_001135000, NP_006823 NM_006832 FHOD3 80206 NP_079411 NM_025135 Hs.436636 218980_at 7.2 10.3 7.8 H2AFY2 55506 NP_061119 NM_018649 Hs.499953 218445_at 5.2 6.5 6.4 Intracellular HHEX 3087 NP_002720 NM_002729 Hs.118651 204689_at 3.6 5.9 6.4 HLX 3142 NP_068777 NM_021958 Hs.74870 214438_at 4.1 8.4 26.3 HS3ST1 9957 NP_005105 NM_005114 Hs.507348 205466_s_at 21.2 6.0 3.2 IRAK3 11213 NP_001135995, NM_001142523, Hs.369265 213817_at 14.5 16.5 6.0 NP_009130 NM_007199 220034_at 5.5 10.3 3.4 MACC1 346389 NP_877439 NM_182762 Hs.598388 1566766_a_at 5.9 15.7 3.5 MAML3 55534 NP_061187 NM_018717 Hs.586165 242794_at 5.4 5.7 4.1 MYO10 4651 NP_036466 NM_012334 Hs.481720 201976_s_at 39.5 17.2 7.1 NR5A2 2494 NP_003813, NM_003822, Hs.33446 208343_s_at 5.5 17.9 39.5 NP_995582 NM_205860 OTUB2 78990 NP_075601 NM_023112 Hs.278815 219369_s_at 3.4 3.7 6.3 222878_s_at 3.2 3.2 6.6 PAPSS2 9060 NP_001015880, NM_001015880, Hs.524491 203058_s_at 4.4 5.1 19.5 NP_004661 NM_004670 203060_s_at 6.6 17.0 14.3 PCBP3 54039 NP_001123613, NM_001130141, Hs.474049 230486_at 4.1 3.6 4.8 NP_065389 NM_020528 PDE4DIP 9659 NP_001002810, NM_001002810, Hs.654651 205872_x_at 4.3 33.4 3.3 NP_001002811, NM_001002811, Hs.613082 209700_x_at 4.1 10.9 9.5 NP_001002812, NM_001002812, NP_055459, NM_014644, NP_071754 NM_022359 PHLDA1 22822 NP_031376 NM_007350 Hs.602085 217999_s_at 3.6 5.0 10.3 225842_at 3.3 3.2 8.0 PLD1 5337 NP_001123553, NM_001130081, Hs.382865 177_at 3.5 3.4 10.3 NP_002653 NM_002662 215723_s_at 3.9 3.4 11.4 226636_at 5.7 3.6 13.1 PPARG 5468 NP_005028, NM_005037, Hs.162646 208510_s_at 7.9 134.5 16.5 NP_056953, NM_015869, NP_619725, NM_138711, NP_619726 NM_138712 PTPN13 5783 NP_006255, NM_006264, Hs.436142 243792_x_at 3.5 4.2 7.9 NP_542414, NM_080683, NP_542415, NM_080684, NP_542416 NM_080685 Intracellular RBM20 282996 NP_001127835, NM_001134363, Hs.715766 238763_at 8.0 3.5 3.0 XP_001716171, XM_001716119, XP_291671, XM_291671, XP_944430 XM_939337 RGS18 64407 NP_570138 NM_130782 Hs.440890 223809_at 3.3 6.9 8.8 RORC 6097 NP_001001523, NM_001001523, Hs.256022 228806_at 14.0 170.6 7.7 NP_005051 NM_005060 NINL 22981 NP_079452 NM_025176 Hs.696157 207705_s_at 4.7 4.7 3.1 RTN2 6253 NP_005610, NM_005619, Hs.47517 34408_at 3.7 4.6 4.5 NP_996783, NM_206900, NP_996784 NM_206901 SH3RF2 153769 NP_689763 NM_152550 Hs.443728 243582_at 5.8 4.1 18.5 SIM1 6492 NP_005059 NM_005068 Hs.520293 1556300_s_at 8.8 4.8 69.0 206876_at 8.7 4.8 37.5 SNAI2 6591 NP_003059 NM_003068 Hs.360174 213139_at 24.6 22.5 13.8 SOX2 6657 NP_003097 NM_003106 Hs.518438 228038_at 9.6 8.3 3.4 SPIRE1 56907 NP_001122098, NM_001128626, Hs.515283 1554807_a_at 4.7 6.1 3.8 NP_001122099, NM_001128627, 224995_at 8.0 9.0 4.7 NP_064533 NM_020148 225018_at 6.6 9.2 6.3 TBC1D12 23232 NP_056003 NM_015188 Hs.500598 221858_at 7.7 5.8 5.5 TGM5 9333 NP_004236, NM_004245, Hs.129719 207911_s_at 3.6 6.6 5.1 NP_963925 NM_201631 TMOD1 7111 NP_003266 NM_003275 Hs.494595 203661_s_at 7.0 14.7 5.1 203662_s_at 7.8 14.5 4.5 TSHZ2 128553 NP_775756 NM_173485 Hs.649877 220213_at 3.6 12.4 3.8 Hs.271605 243940_at 3.1 10.6 4.1 TUBB6 84617 NP_115914 NM_032525 Hs.193491 209191_at 4.1 12.7 4.7 Unknown C1orf106 55765 NP_001136041, NM_001142569, Hs.518997 219010_at 78.5 111.8 3.3 NP_060735 NM_018265 C6orf145 221749 NP_899229 NM_183373 Hs.484500 212923_s_at 10.4 3.8 5.2 LOC401097 401097 XP_001717155, XM_001717103, Hs.710781 236738_at 6.8 3.3 24.9 XP_001718614, XM_001718562, XP_001718795 XM_001718743 MAMLD1 10046 NP_005482 NM_005491 Hs.20136 205088_at 6.6 8.3 34.1 Unknown ZC3H12C 85463 NP_203748 NM_033390 Hs.376289 231899_at 3.0 4.1 18.7 — — — AA579799, Hs.663788 215768_at 4.1 6.1 6.7 AA947186, AL049337, AW665328 — — — AK093229 Hs.586723 222900_at 5.9 3.0 4.5 — — — AK055628, Hs.594351 226777_at 21.6 39.7 3.6 uc001ljj.1 — — — AK129763, Hs.157726 227452_at 4.6 4.2 4.5 CR595588, uc002jiy.1, uc002jiz.1 — — — AA416573, Hs.654918 229951_x_at 4.7 15.0 7.1 AA628762, D53835, D53836, H24473, R37871, R40232, T10348, T23451, W56351, W57867, Z28733 — — — AI766299 — 236338_at 4.3 4.4 3.3 — — — AI262017, Hs.666775 237923_at 6.9 5.3 4.0 AI280978, AI284950, AI733224, AI733801

TABLE 7 Without activation stimulation Location Expression ratio of encoded Entrez Protein Transcript UniGene Probe Set Th17/ Th17/ protein Gene symbol Gene ID ID ID ID ID Th1 Th2 Th17/Treg Unknown — — — AA687415, Hs.434948 238009_at 4.0 19.0 27.6 AA96901, AI291640, AI446064, AI634557, AI694948, AI701854, AI983938, AV745212, AV745909, AV746001, AW008696, AW511701, AW974416, BG149302, BG150103, N66771, R66991 — — — AI148241, Hs.659083 238151_at 50.6 21.1 24.4 AI735444, BE645654, BF510855, BF511636 — — — AK094629 Hs.594896 238623_at 4.9 4.8 3.4 — — — AI682088, Hs.606172 241726_at 5.4 5.7 9.5 AI951058, F06296, F13164, T77624, Z44722 Membrane ADAM12 8038 NP_003465, NM_003474, Hs.594537 202952_s_at 19.5 71.0 3.5 NP_067673 NM_021641 AKAP12 9590 NP_005091, NM_005100, Hs.371240 210517_s_at 9.8 4.5 12.8 NP_653080 NM_144497 227529_s_at 8.9 5.7 45.5 ANKS1B 56899 NP_064525, NM_020140, Hs.506458 227439_at 5.7 10.5 15.1 NP_690001, NM_152788, 227440_at 3.6 12.0 6.3 NP_858056 NM_181670 240292_x_at 5.1 9.9 8.5 ATP6V0A4 50617 NP_065683, NM_020632, Hs.98967 220197_at 9.0 96.4 64.8 NP_570855, NM_130840, NP_570856 NM_130841 ATP9A 10079 NP_006036 NM_006045 Hs.714307 212062_at 7.5 55.4 46.4 BVES 11149 NP_009004, NM_007073, Hs.221660 228783_at 3.4 5.9 9.8 NP_671488 NM_147147 C5orf40 408263 NP_001001343 NM_001001343 Hs.437066 1554801_at 17.2 21.0 5.4 C9orf125 84302 NP_115718 NM_032342 Hs.655738 224458_at 7.5 5.2 8.2 CDH4 1002 NP_001785 NM_001794 Hs.473231 206866_at 7.4 13.7 11.6 DIO2 1734 NP_000784, NM_000793, Hs.202354 203699_s_at 5.7 8.0 15.4 NP_001007024, NM_001007023, 203700_s_at 12.2 13.6 14.1 NP_054644 NM_013989 231240_at 9.6 5.3 6.3 Membrane DMD 1756 NP_000100, NM_000109, Hs.495912 203881_s_at 9.7 3.1 10.4 NP_003997, NM_004006, NP_003998, NM_004007, NP_004000, NM_004009, NP_004001, NM_004010, NP_004002, NM_004011, NP_004003, NM_004012, NP_004004, NM_004013, NP_004005, NM_004014, NP_004006, NM_004015, NP_004007, NM_004016, NP_004008, NM_004017, NP_004009, NM_004018, NP_004010, NM_004019, NP_004011, NM_004020, NP_004012, NM_004021, NP_004013, NM_004022, NP_004014 NM_004023 DPY19L2 283417 NP_776173 NM_173812 Hs.533644 230158_at 12.5 13.0 3.4 GPR34 2857 NP_001091048, NM_001097579 Hs.495989 223620_at 7.2 12.6 22.1 HRH4 59340 NP_001137300, NM_001143828, Hs.287388 221170_at 45.8 3.0 45.6 NP_067637 NM_021624 IL23R 149233 NP_653302 NM_144701 Hs.677426 1561853_a_at 15.1 7.8 6.2 IRS2 8660 NP_003740 NM_003749 Hs.442344 209185_s_at 3.3 6.4 5.1 KCNE3 10008 NP_005463 NM_005472 Hs.523899 227647_at 14.9 5.0 3.7 L1CAM 3897 NP_000416, NM_000425, Hs.522818 204584_at 10.3 6.6 5.9 NP_076493 NM_024003 MCAM 4162 NP_006491 NM_006500 Hs.599039 210869_s_at 12.8 24.4 4.3 MFAP3L 9848 NP_001009554, NM_001009554, Hs.593942 205442_at 25.8 22.6 10.5 NP_067679 NM_021647 210492_at 3.5 4.7 6.7 MUC20 200958 NP_001091986, NM_001098516, Hs.308992 231941_s_at 8.3 3.4 7.2 NP_689886, NM_152673, XP_001726746 XM_001726694 MYO7A 4647 NP_000251, NM_000260, Hs.370421 208189_s_at 13.7 13.0 6.8 NP_001120651, NM_001127179, 211103_at 7.5 15.1 5.1 NP_001120652 NM_001127180 Membrane POPDC3 64208 NP_071756 NM_022361, Hs.458336 219926_at 4.5 12.9 12.8 NR_024539 PTPRM 5797 NP_001098714, NM_001105244, Hs.49774 1555579_s_at 4.1 66.0 4.1 NP_002836 NM_002845 SHROOM2 357 NP_001640 NM_001649 Hs.567236 204967_at 11.5 3.5 5.9 SLC16A4 9122 NP_004687 NM_004696 Hs.351306 205234_at 29.8 16.6 6.8 SLCO2B1 11309 NP_009187 NM_007256 Hs.7884 203473_at 11.0 5.9 5.9 SORBS1 10580 NP_001030126, NM_001034954, Hs.713556 218087_s_at 37.9 4.7 12.8 NP_001030127, NM_001034955, 222513_s_at 14.4 3.6 8.2 NP_001030128, NM_001034956, NP_001030129, NM_001034957, NP_006425, NM_006434, NP_056200, NM_015385, NP_079267 NM_024991 TANC1 85461 NP_203752 NM_033394 Hs.61590 225308_s_at 8.1 17.7 4.9 TANC2 26115 NP_079461 NM_025185 Hs.410889 224952_at 5.3 4.9 6.4 TJP1 7082 NP_003248, NM_003257, Hs.716406 202011_at 11.5 11.7 5.6 NP_783297 NM_175610 TMEM163 81615 NP_112185 NM_030923 Hs.369471 1552626_a_at 10.8 12.6 13.9 223503_at 18.5 23.9 21.7 TMEM44 93109 NP_001011655, NM_001011655, Hs.478729 228054_at 7.4 5.2 3.3 NP_612408 NM_138399 TNS3 64759 NP_073585 NM_022748 Hs.520814 217853_at 7.8 27.1 6.4 UNC13C 440279 NP_001074003 NM_001080534 Hs.657273 1556095_at 7.3 6.1 3.8 UPK1B 7348 NP_008883 NM_006952 Hs.271580 210065_s_at 5.3 9.6 10.3 WDFY3 23001 NP_055806, NM_014991, Hs.480116 212598_at 10.7 16.1 19.6 NP_848698, NM_178583, 212602_at 8.5 19.4 9.8 NP_848700 NM_178585 212606_at 22.6 62.2 20.5 Extracellular/ CXCL13 10563 NP_006410 NM_006419 Hs.100431 205242_at 47.5 40.4 4.8 secreted IL17A 3605 NP_002181 NM_002190 Hs.41724 208402_at 16.5 11.1 3.2 216876_s_at 404.7 50.0 7.6 IL17F 112744 NP_443104 NM_052872 Hs.272295 234408_at 464.4 421.4 77.1 IL22 50616 NP_065386 NM_020525 Hs.287369 221165_s_at 4.7 4.6 4.3 222974_at 4.3 5.5 9.8 IL26 55801 NP_060872 NM_018402 Hs.272350 221111_at 10.2 22.5 67.8 IL9 3578 NP_000581 NM_000590 Hs.960 208193_at 729.7 174.0 35.8 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 26577 NP_037495 NM_013363 Hs.8944 219295_s_at 10.8 19.3 6.2 secreted PNOC 5368 NP_006219 NM_006228 Hs.88218 205901_at 39.4 11.4 24.3 SMPDL3A 10924 NP_006705 NM_006714 Hs.486357 213624_at 3.4 3.3 3.5 TGFBI 7045 NP_000349 NM_000358 Hs.369397 201506_at 55.9 318.3 32.0 Intracellular BCAT1 586 NP_005495 NM_005504 Hs.438993 214452_at 3.1 5.8 28.9 BHLHE22 27319 NP_689627 NM_152414 Hs.591870 228636_at 11.6 14.2 18.7 C13orf18, 80183, NP_079389, NM_025113, Hs.98117 44790_s_at 3.2 18.8 12.4 LOC728970 728970 XP_001132115, XM_001132115, XP_001133896, XM_001133896, XP_001720207 XM_001720155 CA2 760 NP_000058 NM_000067 Hs.155097 209301_at 5.2 61.3 167.6 CCDC3 83643 NP_113643 NM_031455 Hs.498720 223316_at 11.2 52.3 43.4 CDS1 1040 NP_001254 NM_001263 Hs.654899 205709_s_at 7.3 9.5 4.2 226185_at 4.2 7.8 3.3 CHN1 1123 NP_001020372, NM_001025201, Hs.654534 212624_s_at 11.5 21.3 9.1 NP_001813 NM_001822 CLIC5, 53405, NP_001107558, NM_001114086, Hs.485489 213317_at 7.1 22.1 9.6 LOC100131610 100131610 NP_058625, NM_016929, 217628_at 3.1 4.2 4.6 XP_001723610 XM_001723558 243917_at 10.8 17.2 11.7 219866_at 6.2 10.6 12.2 CTSH 1512 NP_004381, NM_004390, Hs.148641 202295_s_at 4.6 12.1 6.9 NP_683880 NM_148979 CYP7B1 9420 NP_004811 NM_004820 Hs.667720 207386_at 16.4 11.8 5.3 DAPK2 23604 NP_055141 NM_014326 Hs.237886 206324_s_at 4.4 4.7 3.9 DMRT1 1761 NP_068770 NM_021951 Hs.98586 220493_at 5.2 18.4 3.9 DSE 29940 NP_001074445, NM_001080976, Hs.486292 218854_at 15.0 51.2 22.3 NP_037484 NM_013352 EML1 2009 NP_001008707, NM_001008707, Hs.12451 204796_at 10.1 8.9 5.8 NP_004425 NM_004434 204797_s_at 3.1 3.1 3.2 FBXL17 64839 NP_073735 NM_022824 Hs.657225 227203_at 12.6 11.8 4.5 FBXL21 26223 NP_036291 NM_012159 Hs.591275 1555412_at 26.5 35.3 22.3 FHOD3 80206 NP_079411 NM_025135 Hs.436636 218980_at 7.0 9.9 6.7 H2AFY2 55506 NP_061119 NM_018649 Hs.499953 218445_at 3.9 8.2 4.7 HIST1H2BC 8347 NP_003517 NM_003526 Hs.658713 236193_at 3.8 4.4 3.3 HLX 3142 NP_068777 NM_021958 Hs.74870 214438_at 3.3 5.2 39.3 Intracellular IRAK3 11213 NP_001135995, NM_001142523, Hs.369265 213817_at 9.4 18.8 6.5 NP_009130 NM_007199 MACC1 346389 NP_877439 NM_182762 Hs.598388 1566764_at 5.6 12.8 3.5 1566766_a_at 9.2 17.3 4.7 MAML3 55534 NP_061187 NM_018717 Hs.586165 242794_at 6.4 5.7 4.6 MAP3K4 4216 NP_005913, NM_005922, Hs.390428 204089_x_at 3.3 3.3 3.4 NP_006715 NM_006724 216199_s_at 3.2 3.6 3.4 MYO10 4651 NP_036466 NM_012334 Hs.481720 1554026_a_at 9.1 11.7 7.1 201976_s_at 45.4 19.1 15.0 216222_s_at 3.0 6.2 6.7 OTUB2 78990 NP_075601 NM_023112 Hs.278815 219369_s_at 3.1 3.4 3.8 222878_s_at 4.2 7.2 4.8 PAPSS2 9060 NP_001015880, NM_001015880, Hs.524491 203058_s_at 5.5 11.0 11.1 NP_004661 NM_004670 203060_s_at 6.3 47.2 17.3 PCBP3 54039 NP_001123613, NM_001130141, Hs.474049 230486_at 4.5 3.1 5.0 NP_065389 NM_020528 PDE4DIP 9659 NP_001002810, NM_001002810, Hs.654651 205872_x_at 5.2 33.6 4.3 NP_001002811, NM_001002811, Hs.613082 209700_x_at 4.9 29.1 8.3 NP_001002812, NM_001002812, NP_055459, NM_014644, NP_071754 NM_022359 PDK4 5166 NP_002603 NM_002612 Hs.8364 225207_at 5.3 3.0 4.1 PLD1 5337 NP_001123553, NM_001130081, Hs.382865 226636_at 3.7 3.2 8.2 NP_002653 NM_002662 PPARG 5468 NP_005028, NM_005037, Hs.162646 208510_s_at 8.0 22.8 14.1 NP_056953, NM_015869, NP_619725, NM_138711, NP_619726 NM_138712 PTPN13 5783 NP_006255, NM_006264, Hs.436142 204201_s_at 3.1 4.5 19.7 NP_542414, NM_080683, 243792_x_at 7.9 5.5 11.7 NP_542415, NM_080684, NP_542416 NM_080685 RGS18 64407 NP_570138 NM_130782 Hs.440890 223809_at 4.1 4.9 3.4 RGS2 5997 NP_002914 NM_002923 Hs.78944 202388_at 3.3 3.5 8.1 Intracellular RGS20 8601 NP_003693, NM_003702, Hs.368733 210138_at 6.4 4.9 9.7 NP_733466 NM_170587 RORC 6097 NP_001001523, NM_001001523, Hs.256022 228806_at 150.1 51.2 5.7 NP_005051 NM_005060 SIM1 6492 NP_005059 NM_005068 Hs.520293 1556300_s_at 14.5 5.8 99.6 206876_at 10.9 5.2 26.9 SNAI2 6591 NP_003059 NM_003068 Hs.360174 213139_at 8.2 15.0 6.8 SOX2 6657 NP_003097 NM_003106 Hs.518438 228038_at 14.4 14.4 16.4 SPIRE1 56907 NP_001122098, NM_001128626, Hs.515283 1554807_a_at 6.0 3.3 4.4 NP_001122099, NM_001128627, 224995_at 7.2 5.2 5.9 NP_064533 NM_020148 225018_at 5.5 5.4 7.8 TBC1D12 23232 NP_056003 NM_015188 Hs.500598 221858_at 4.2 3.2 3.1 TGM5 9333 NP_004236, NM_004245, Hs.129719 207911_s_at 5.1 7.7 6.5 NP_963925 NM_201631 TMOD1 7111 NP_003266 NM_003275 Hs.494595 203661_s_at 6.2 10.7 4.0 203662_s_at 6.2 9.5 3.7 TUBB6 84617 NP_115914 NM_032525 Hs.193491 209191_at 3.5 11.2 6.4 Unknown C12orf64 283310 NP_775862 NM_173591 Hs.355145 1553746_a_at 4.2 5.3 10.8 C6orf168 84553 NP_115900 NM_032511 Hs.573245 232067_at 3.3 5.8 37.1 CAMSAP1L1 23271 NP_982284 NM_203459 Hs.23585 217196_s_at 22.5 10.1 3.7 MAGED4, 728239, NP_001092270, NM_001098800, Hs.571729 223313_s_at 16.3 8.6 3.5 MAGED4B 81557 NP_110428, NM_030801, NP_803879, NM_177535, NP_803881 NM_177537 — — — AK093612 Hs.663643 1556602_at 4.1 5.9 6.3 — — — BC010059 Hs.637648 1562957_at 6.6 3.6 4.6 — — — AK055628, Hs.594351 226777_at 30.4 42.8 3.4 uc001ljj.1 — — — GENSCAN00000030683 — 227985_at 13.4 19.2 3.6 Unknown — — — AA416573, Hs.654918 229951_x_at 4.2 13.5 4.9 AA628762, D53835, D53836, H24473, R37871, R40232, T10348, T23451, W56351, W57867, Z28733 — — — AK027107 Hs.655798 232331_at 3.5 3.5 9.0 — — — AI269134, Hs.657330 235438_at 73.9 22.0 3.3 AI312873, AI671475, AV656012, AW162011, BG151392, H69527, N43169, Z36958 Unknown — — — AA687415, Hs.434948 238009_at 4.6 15.9 15.0 AA96901, AI291640, AI446064, AI634557, AI694948, AI701854, AI983938, AV745212, AV745909, AV746001, AW008696, AW511701, AW974416, BG149302, BG150103, N66771, R66991 — — — AI148241, Hs.659083 238151_at 37.6 48.1 29.9 AI735444, BE645654, BF510855, BF511636 — — — AK094629 Hs.594896 238623_at 7.0 5.6 6.8 — — — AI435469, Hs.656932 241022_at 6.1 10.7 12.4 BF111679, BF112253, R37814 — — — AA846423, Hs.665895 243922_at 16.7 12.8 6.0 AI022103, BF061333 — — — AA648972, Hs.602350 244247_at 3.9 3.4 5.3 AA879467, AI802768, AW974600

Among the above genes, those shown in Table 8 have been known for their specific expression in Th17 cells.

TABLE 8 SEQ Gene symbol Entrez Protein Transcript UniGene Probe Set Expression ratio ID NO: (Gene title) Gene ID ID ID ID ID Th17/Th1 Th17/Th2 Th17/Treg 175 IL23R(interleukin 23 149233 NP_653302 NM_144701 Hs.677426 1552912_a_at 7.6 11.7 4.5 receptor) 176 IL17A(interleukin 17A) 3605 NP_002181 NM_002190 Hs.41724 216876_s_at 397.5 473.0 29.3 177 IL17F(interleukin 17F) 112744 NP_443104 NM_052872 Hs.272295 234408_at 611.6 951.0 383.6 178 IL22(interleukin 22) 50616 NP_065386 NM_020525 Hs.287369 222974_at 6.4 29.9 10.6 179 IL26(interleukin 26) 55801 NP_060872 NM_018402 Hs.272350 221111_at 10.1 13.0 39.4 180 RORC(RAR-related 6097 NP_001001523, NM_001001523, Hs.256022 228806_at 13.8 174.9 7.6 orphan receptor C) NP_005051 NM_005060

Expression levels of those known genes in Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 cells obtained in the above step 2. were analyzed with microarray as described above. It was found that those genes were expressed 4 to 950 times higher in Th17 cells than in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells. These results are shown in FIG. 1. These results indicated that the above cells are suitable for investigation of markers for detecting Th17 cells.

The present inventors have identified novel polynucleotide markers for detecting Th17 cells by excluding the genes shown in Table 8 from those obtained as above. These novel polynucleotide markers are shown in Table 9.

In this table, “Condition” means with or without activation stimulation of cells. The genes designated as “Common” in the column of “Condition” are the genes specifically expressed in both Th17 cells with stimulation and without stimulation. The genes designated as “With stimulation” and “Without stimulation” are the genes specifically expressed either in Th17 cells with stimulation or without stimulation, respectively.

TABLE 9 Location SEQ of encoded Entrez Protein Transcript UniGene Probe Set ID protein Condition No. Gene symbol Gene ID ID ID ID ID NO: Membrane Common 1 ADAM12 8038 NP_003465, NM_003474, Hs.594537 202952_s_at 1 NP_067673 NM_021641 2 ANKS1B 56899 NP_064525, NM_020140, Hs.506458 227439_at 2 NP_690001, NM_152788, 240292_x_at 3 NP_858056 NM_181670 3 ATP6V0A4 50617 NP_065683, NM_020632, Hs.98967 220197_at 4 NP_570855, NM_130840, NP_570856 NM_130841 4 ATP9A 10079 NP_006036 NM_006045 Hs.714307 212062_at 5 5 BVES 11149 NP_009004, NM_007073, Hs.221660 228783_at 6 NP_671488 NM_147147 6 C5orf40 408263 NP_001001343 NM_001001343 Hs.437066 1554801_at 7 7 CDH4 1002 NP_001785 NM_001794 Hs.473231 206866_at 8 8 DIO2 1734 NP_000784, NM_000793, Hs.202354 203700_s_at 9 NP_001007024, NM_01007023, Hs.495912 203881_s_at 10 NP_054644 NM_013989 9 DMD 1756 NP_000100, NM_000109, NP_003997, NM_004006, NP_003998, NM_004007, NP_004000, NM_004009, NP_004001, NM_004010, NP_004002, NM_004011, NP_004003, NM_004012, NP_004004, NM_004013, NP_004005, NM_004014, NP_004006, NM_004015, NP_004007, NM_004016, NP_004008, NM_004017, NP_004009, NM_004018, NP_004010, NM_004019, NP_004011, NM_004020, NP_004012, NM_004021, NP_004013, NM_004022, NP_004014 NM_004023 Membrane Common 10 GPR34 2857 NP_001091048, NM_001097579, Hs.495989 223620_at 11 NP_005291 NM_005300 11 IRS2 8660 NP_003740 NM_003749 Hs.442344 209184_s_at 12 209185_s_at 13 12 KCNE3 10008 NP_005463 NM_005472 Hs.523899 227647_at 14 13 L1CAM 3897 NP_000416, NM_000425, Hs.522818 204584_at 15 NP_076493 NM_024003 14 MCAM 4162 NP_006491 NM_006500 Hs.599039 210869_s_at 16 15 MFAP3L 9848 NP_001009554, NM_001009554, Hs.593942 205442_at 17 NP_067679 NM_021647 16 MYO7A 4647 NP_000251, NM_00260, Hs.370421 208189_s_at 18 NP_001120651, NM_001127179, NP_001120652 NM_001127180 17 PTPRM 5797 NP_001098714, NM_001105244, Hs.49774 1555579_s_at 19 NP_002836 NM_002845 18 SHROOM2 357 NP_001640 NM_001649 Hs.567236 204967_at 20 19 SLC16A4 9122 NP_004687 NM_004696 Hs.351306 205234_at 21 20 SLCO2B1 11309 NP_009187 NM_007256 Hs.7884 203473_at 22 21 TANC2 26115 NP_079461 NM_025185 Hs.410889 208425_s_at 23 224952_at 24 22 TJP1 7082 NP_003248, NM_003257, Hs.716406 202011_at 25 NP_783297 NM_175610 23 TMEM163 81615 NP_112185 NM_030923 Hs.369471 1552626_a_at 26 223503_at 27 24 TNS3 64759 NP_073585 NM_022748 Hs.520814 217853_at 28 25 UPK1B 7348 NP_008883 NM_006952 Hs.271580 210065_s_at 29 26 WDFY3 23001 NP_055806, NM_014991, Hs.480116 212598_at 30 NP_848698, NM_178583, 212602_at 31 NP_848700 NM_178585 212606_at 32 w/o 27 DRD2 1813 NP_000786, NM_000795, Hs.73893 216938_x_at 33 stimulation NP_057658 NM_016574 28 GJC1 10052 NP_001073852, NM_001080383, Hs.532593 228776_at 34 NP_005488 NM_005497 243502_at 35 Membrane Without 29 PGBD5, 79605, NP_078830, NM_024554, Hs.520463 219225_at 36 stimulation LOC100134440 100134440 XP_001716155 XM_001716103 30 MS4A7 58475 NP_067024, NM_021201, Hs.530735 223343_at 37 NP_996821, NM_206938, NP_996822, NM_206939, NP_996823 NM_206940 31 ODZ4 26011 NP_001092286 NM_001098816 Hs.213087 213273_at 38 32 PHKA1 5255 NP_001116142, NM_001122670, Hs.201379 229876_at 39 NP_002628 NM_002637 33 RGS1 5996 NP_002913 NM_002922 Hs.75256 202988_s_at 40 34 SHB 6461 NP_003019 NM_003028 Hs.521482 1557458_s_at 41 35 SLC44A3 126969 NP_001107578, NM_001114106, Hs.483423 228221_at 42 NP_689582 NM_152369 36 SLC6A15 55117 NP_060527, NM_018057, Hs.44424 206376_at 43 NP_877499 NM_182767 37 SYNGR3 9143 NP_004200 NM_004209 Hs.435277 205691_at 44 With 38 AKAP12 9590 NP_005091, NM_005100, Hs.371240 210517_s_at 45 stimulation NP_653080 NM_144497 227529_s_at 46 39 C9orf125 84302 NP_115718 NM_032342 Hs.655738 224458_at 47 40 DPY19L2 283417 NP_776173 NM_173812 Hs.533644 230158_at 48 41 HRH4 59340 NP_001137300, NM_001143828, Hs.287388 221170_at 49 NP_067637 NM_021624 42 MUC20 200958 NP_001091986, NM_01098516, Hs.308992 231941_s_at 50 NP_689886, NM_152673, XP_001726746 XM_001726694 43 POPDC3 64208 NP_071756 NM_022361, Hs.458336 219926_at 51 NR_024539 44 SORBS1 10580 NP_001030126, NM_001034954, Hs.713556 218087_s_at 52 NP_001030127, NM_001034955, 222513_s_at 53 NP_001030128, NM_001034956, NP_001030129, NM_001034957, NP_006425, NM_006434, NP_056200, NM_015385, NP_079267 NM_024991 Membrane With 45 TANC1 85461 NP_203752 NM_033394 Hs.61590 225308_s_at 54 stimulation 46 TMEM44 93109 NP_001011655, NM_001011655, Hs.478729 228054_at 55 NP_612408 NM_138399 47 UNC13C 440279 NP_001074003 NM_001080534 Hs.657273 1556095_at 56 Extra- Common 48 CXCL13 10563 NP_006410 NM_006419 Hs.100431 205242_at 57 cellular/ 49 IL9 3578 NP_000581 NM_000590 Hs.960 208193_at 58 secreted 50 PCOLCE2 26577 NP_037495 NM_013363 Hs.8944 219295_s_at 59 51 PNOC 5368 NP_006219 NM_006228 Hs.88218 205901_at 60 52 SMPDL3A 10924 NP_006705 NM_006714 Hs.486357 213624_at 61 53 TGFBI 7045 NP_000349 NM_000358 Hs.369397 201506_at 62 w/o 54 C17orf99 100141515 NP_001156547 NM_001163075 Hs.633034 236981_at 63 stimulation 55 EBI3 10148 NP_005746 NM_005755 Hs.501452 219424_at 64 56 IL1A 3552 NP_000566 NM_000575 Hs.1722 210118_s_at 65 57 WNT3 7473 NP_110380 NM_030753 Hs.445884 229103_at 66 Intracellular Common 58 BCAT1 586 NP_005495 NM_005504 Hs.438993 214390_s_at 67 214452_at 68 225285_at 69 226517_at 70 59 BHLHE22 27319 NP_689627 NM_152414 Hs.591870 228636_at 71 60 C13orf18, 80183, NP_079389, NM_025113, Hs.98117 44790_s_at 72 LOC728970 728970 XP_001132115, XM_001132115, XP_001133896, XM_001133896, XP_001720207 XM_001720155 61 CA2 760 NP_000058 NM_000067 Hs.155097 209301_at 73 62 CCDC3 83643 NP_113643 NM_031455 Hs.498720 223316_at 74 63 CDS1 1040 NP_001254 NM_001263 Hs.654899 205709_s_at 75 64 CHN1 1123 NP_001020372, NM_001025201, Hs.654534 212624_s_at 76 NP_001813 NM_01822 65 CLIC5, 53405, NP_001107558, NM_001114086, Hs.485489 213317_at 77 LOC100131610 100131610 NP_058625, NM_016929, 217628_at 78 XP_001723610 XM_001723558 243917_at 79 219866_at 80 66 CTSH 1512 NP_004381, NM_004390, Hs.148641 202295_s_at 81 NP_683880 NM_148979 Intracellular Common 67 CYP7B1 9420 NP_004811 NM_004820 Hs.667720 207386_at 82 68 DAPK2 23604 NP_055141 NM_014326 Hs.237886 206324_s_at 83 215184_at 84 69 DMRT1 1761 NP_068770 NM_021951 Hs.98586 220493_at 85 70 DSE 29940 NP_001074445, NM_001080976, Hs.486292 218854_at 86 NP_037484 NM_013352 71 FBXL17 64839 NP_073735 NM_022824 Hs.657225 227203_at 87 72 FBXL21 26223 NP_036291 NM_012159 Hs.591275 1555412_at 88 73 FHOD3 80206 NP_079411 NM_025135 Hs.436636 218980_at 89 74 H2AFY2 55506 NP_061119 NM_018649 Hs.499953 218445_at 90 75 HLX 3142 NP_068777 NM_021958 Hs.74870 214438_at 91 76 IRAK3 11213 NP_001135995, NM_001142523, Hs.369265 213817_at 92 NP_009130 NM_007199 220034_at 93 77 MACC1 346389 NP_877439 NM_182762 Hs.598388 1566766_a_at 94 78 MAML3 55534 NP_061187 NM_018717 Hs.586165 242794_at 95 79 MYO10 4651 NP_036466 NM_012334 Hs.481720 201976_s_at 96 80 OTUB2 78990 NP_075601 NM_023112 Hs.278815 219369_s_at 97 222878_s_at 98 81 PAPSS2 9060 NP_001015880, NM_001015880, Hs.524491 203058_s_at 99 NP_004661 NM_004670 203060_s_at 100 82 PCBP3 54039 NP_001123613, NM_001130141, Hs.474049 230486_at 101 NP_065389 NM_020528 83 PDE4DIP 9659 NP_001002810, NM_001002810, Hs.654651 205872_x_at 102 NP_001002811, NM_001002811, Hs.613082 209700_x_at 103 NP_001002812, NM_001002812, NP_055459, NM_014644, NP_071754 NM_022359 84 PLD1 5337 NP_001123553, NM_001130081, Hs.382865 177_at 104 NP_002653 NM_002662 215723_s_at 105 226636_at 106 85 PPARG 5468 NP_005028, NM_005037, Hs.162646 208510_s_at 107 NP_056953, NM_015869, NP_619725, NM_138711, NP_619726 NM_138712 Intracellular Common 86 PTPN13 5783 NP_006255, NM_006264, Hs.436142 243792_x_at 108 NP_542414, NM_080683, NP_542415, NM_080684, NP_542416 NM_080685 87 RGS18 64407 NP_570138 NM_130782 Hs.440890 223809_at 109 88 SIM1 6492 NP_005059 NM_005068 Hs.520293 1556300_s_at 110 206876_at 111 89 SNAI2 6591 NP_003059 NM_003068 Hs.360174 213139_at 112 90 SOX2 6657 NP_003097 NM_003106 Hs.518438 228038_at 113 91 SPIRE1 56907 NP_001122098, NM_001128626, Hs.515283 1554807_a_at 114 NP_001122099, NM_001128627, 224995_at 115 NP_064533 NM_020148 225018_at 116 92 TBC1D12 23232 NP_056003 NM_015188 Hs.500598 221858_at 117 93 TGM5 9333 NP_004236, NM_004245, Hs.129719 207911_s_at 118 NP_963925 NM_201631 94 TMOD1 7111 NP_003266 NM_003275 Hs.494595 203661_s_at 119 203662_s_at 120 95 TUBB6 84617 NP_115914 NM_032525 Hs.193491 209191_at 121 Without 96 DDIT4L 115265 NP_660287 NM_145244 Hs.480378 228057_at 122 stimulation 97 DHRS9 10170 NP_001135742, NM_001142270, Hs.179608 219799_s_at 123 NP_001135743, NM_001142271, 223952_x_at 124 NP_005762, NM_005771, 224009_x_at 125 NP_954674 NM_199204 98 ERC2 26059 NP_056391 NM_015576 Hs.476389 213938_at 126 99 FERMT2 10979 NP_001128471, NM_001134999, Hs.509343 209210_s_at 127 NP_001128472, NM_001135000, NP_006823 NM_006832 100 HHEX 3087 NP_002720 NM_002729 Hs.118651 204689_at 128 101 HS3ST1 9957 NP_005105 NM_005114 Hs.507348 205466_s_at 129 102 NR5A2 2494 NP_003813, NM_003822, Hs.33446 208343_s_at 130 NP_995582 NM_205860 103 PHLDA1 22822 NP_031376 NM_007350 Hs.602085 217999_s_at 131 225842_at 132 Intracellular Without 104 RBM20 282996 NP_001127835, NM_001134363, Hs.715766 238763_at 133 stimulation XP_001716171, XM_001716119, XP_291671, XM_291671, XP_944430 XM_939337 105 NINL 22981 NP_079452 NM_025176 Hs.696157 207705_s_at 134 106 RTN2 6253 NP_005610, NM_005619, Hs.47517 34408_at 135 NP_996783, NM_206900, NP_996784 NM_206901 107 SH3RF2 153769 NP_689763 NM_152550 Hs.443728 243582_at 136 108 TSHZ2 128553 NP_775756 NM_173485 Hs.649877 220213_at 137 Hs.271605 243940_at 138 With 109 EML1 2009 NP_001008707, NM_001008707, Hs.12451 204796_at 139 stimulation NP_004425 NM_004434 204797_s_at 140 110 HIST1H2BC 8347 NP_003517 NM_003526 Hs.658713 236193_at 141 111 MAP3K4 4216 NP_005913, NM_005922, Hs.390428 204089_x_at 142 NP_006715 NM_006724 216199_s_at 143 112 PDK4 5166 NP_002603 NM_002612 Hs.8364 225207_at 144 113 RGS2 5997 NP_002914 NM_002923 Hs.78944 202388_at 145 114 RGS20 8601 NP_003693, NM_003702, Hs.368733 210138_at 146 NP_733466 NM_170587 Unknown Common 115 — — — AK055628, Hs.594351 226777_at 147 uc001ljj.1 116 — — — AA416573, Hs.654918 229951_x_at 148 AA628762, D53835, D53836, H24473, R37871, R40232, T10348, T23451, W56351, W57867, Z28733 Unknown Common 117 — — — AA687415, Hs.434948 238009_at 149 AA96901, AI291640, AI446064, AI634557, AI694948, AI701854, AI983938, AV745212, AV745909, AV746001, AW008696, AW511701, AW974416, BG149302, BG150103, N66771, R66991 118 — — — AI148241, Hs.659083 238151_at 150 AI735444, BE645654, BF510855, BF511636 119 — — — AK094629 Hs.594896 238623_at 151 Without 120 C1orf106 55765 NP_001136041, NM_001142569, Hs.518997 219010_at 152 stimulation NP_060735 NM_018265 121 C6orf145 221749 NP_899229 NM_183373 Hs.484500 212923_s_at 153 122 LOC401097 401097 XP_001717155, XM_001717103, Hs.710781 236738_at 154 XP_001718614, XM_001718562, XP_001718795 XM_001718743 123 MAMLD1 10046 NP_005482 NM_005491 Hs.20136 205088_at 155 124 ZC3H12C 85463 NP_203748 NM_033390 Hs.376289 231899_at 156 Unknown Without 125 — — — AA579799, Hs.663788 215768_at 157 stimulation AA947186, AL049337, AW665328 126 — — — AK093229 Hs.586723 222900_at 158 127 — — — AK129763, Hs.157726 227452_at 159 CR595588 uc002jiy.1, uc002jiz.1 128 — — — AI766299 — 236338_at 160 129 — — — AI262017, Hs.666775 237923_at 161 AI280978, AI284950, AI733224, AI733801 130 — — — AI682088, Hs.606172 241726_at 162 AI951058, F06296, F13164, T77624, Z44722 With 131 C12orf64 283310 NP_775862 NM_173591 Hs.355145 1553746_a_at 163 stimulation 132 C6orf168 84553 NP_115900 NM_032511 Hs.573245 232067_at 164 133 CAMSAP1L1 23271 NP_982284 NM_203459 Hs.23585 217196_s_at 165 134 MAGED4, 728239, NP_001092270, NM_001098800, Hs.571729 223313_s_at 166 MAGED4B 81557 NP_110428, NM_030801, NP_803879, NM_177535, NP_803881 NM_177537 135 — — — AK093612 Hs.663643 1556602_at 167 136 — — — BC010059 Hs.637648 1562957_at 168 137 — — — GENSCAN00000030683 — 227985_at 169 138 — — — AK027107 Hs.655798 232331_at 170 139 — — — AI269134, Hs.657330 235438_at 171 AI312873, AI671475, AV656012, AW162011, BG151392, H69527, N43169, Z36958 140 — — — AI435469, Hs.656932 241022_at 172 BF111679, BF112253, R37814 141 — — — AA846423, Hs.665895 243922_at 173 AI022103, BF061333 142 — — — AA648972, Hs.602350 244247_at 174 AA879467, AI802768, AW974600

It is believed that detection of the polynucleotide markers shown in Table 9 by well-known methods in the art such as PCR or detection of proteins encoded by these polynucleotide markers by well-known methods in the art such as ELISA or flow cytometry allows specific detection of human Th17 cells.

Example 2 Expression Analysis of Protein Markers for Detecting human Th17 Cells 1. Preparation of Measurement Samples (1) Preparation of MCAM Measurement Samples

To Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” (5×10⁶ cells/ml) prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” was added a phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled anti-MCAM antibody (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.25 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After the reaction, Th17 cells were washed by adding phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5 μg/ml 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) and 0.5% BSA to prepare a MCAM measurement sample of Th17 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml).

MCAM measurement samples of Th1 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as above except that Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”, respectively, were used instead of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”.

A negative control sample (5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a PE-labeled mouse IgG2a isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PE-labeled MCAM antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(2) Preparation of PTPRM Measurement Samples

To Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” (5×10⁶ cells/ml) prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” was added an anti-PTPRM antibody (Abcam) to a final concentration of 2.0 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After the reaction, Th17 cells were added with PBS containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuged to collect the cells. The collected Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5% BSA. The suspension was added with a PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After reaction with the PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody, Th17 cells were washed by adding PBS containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5 μg/ml 7-amino-actinomycin D (7-AAD) and 0.5% BSA to prepare a PTPRM measurement sample of Th17 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml).

PTPRM measurement samples of Th1 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as above except that Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”, respectively, were used instead of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”.

A negative control sample (5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a mouse IgG2a isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the anti-PTPRM antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(3) Preparation of CCR6 Measurement Samples

CCR6 measurement samples of Th17 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml), of Th1 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as the above paragraph “(1) Preparation of MCAM measurement samples” except that a PE-labeled anti-CCR6 antibody (BD Bioscience) was used at a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PE-labeled anti-MCAM antibody.

A negative control sample (5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a PE-labeled mouse IgG1 isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PE-labeled anti-CCR6 antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(4) Preparation of FOXP3 Measurement Samples

Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” (5×10⁶ cells/ml) prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” were fixed and permeability of the cell membranes was increased using FOXP3 staining buffer set (eBioscience) before addition of a PE-labeled anti-FOXP3 antibody (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 3.125 μg/ml and reaction at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After the reaction, Th17 cells were washed by adding phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5% BSA to prepare a FOXP3 measurement sample of Th17 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml).

FOXP3 measurement samples of Th1 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (5×10⁶ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as above except that Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”, respectively, were used instead of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”.

A negative control sample (5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a PE-labeled mouse IgG1 isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PE-labeled FOXP3 antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(5) Preparation of GRP34 Measurement Samples

Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” were prepared in 5% FBS/RPMI at 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. Phorbol myristate acetate at a final concentration of 50 ng/ml and ionomycin at a final concentration of 1 μM were added and incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours to stimulate Th17 cells. Then, brefeldin A was added to a final concentration of 10 μg/ml and incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours.

After cultivation, Th17 cells were washed twice by adding phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were added with 2% paraformaldehyde to fix the cells. After fixing the cells, a saponin buffer (0.5% saponin, 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA), 1 mM sodium azide (in PBS)) was added to accelerate cell membrane permeability of Th17 cells.

The sample after saponin treatment was added with an anti-GPR34 antibody (Lifespan Biosciences) to a final concentration of 25.0 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes. After the reaction, the saponin buffer was added and Th17 cells were collected by centrifugation. The collected Th17 cells were suspended in the saponin buffer. The suspension was added with a PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After the reaction with the PE-labeled anti-mouse IgG antibody, Th17 cells were washed twice by adding the saponin buffer and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5% BSA to prepare a GRP34 measurement sample of Th17 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml).

GRP34 measurement samples of Th1 cells, of Th2 cells and of Treg cells were prepared in the similar manner as above except that Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”, respectively, were used instead of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”.

A negative control sample (2.5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a mouse IgG2a isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the anti-GPR34 antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(6) Preparation of IL-17A Measurement Samples

Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” were prepared in 5% FBS/RPMI at 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. Phorbol myristate acetate at a final concentration of 50 ng/ml and ionomycin at a final concentration of 1 μM were added and incubated at 37° C. for 4 hours to stimulate Th17 cells. Then, brefeldin A was added to a final concentration of 10 μg/ml and incubated at 37° C. for 2 hours.

After cultivation, Th17 cells were washed by adding phosphate buffered saline (PBS) containing 0.5% BSA and centrifuging to collect the cells. The washed Th17 cells were added with 2% paraformaldehyde to fix the cells. After fixing the cells, a saponin buffer (0.5% saponin, 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA), 1 mM sodium azide (in PBS)) was added to accelerate cell membrane permeability of Th17 cells.

The sample after saponin treatment was added with a PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled anti-IL-17A antibody (eBioscience) to a final concentration of 0.15 μg/ml and reaction was carried out at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

After the reaction, Th17 cells were washed by adding the saponin buffer and centrifuging to collect cells. The washed Th17 cells were suspended in PBS containing 0.5% BSA to prepare a IL-17A measurement sample of Th17 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml).

A negative control sample (2.5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding a PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled mouse IgG1 isotype control (eBioscience) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled anti-IL-17A antibody.

(7) Preparation of IFN-γ Measurement Samples

IFN-γ measurement samples of Th17 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml), of Th1 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as the above paragraph “(6) Preparation of IL-17A measurement samples” except that an Alexa488-labeled anti-IFN-γ antibody (BioLegend) was used at a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled anti-IL-17A antibody.

A negative control sample (2.5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding an Alex488-labeled mouse IgG1 isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the Alexa488-labeled anti-IFN-γ antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

(8) Preparation of IL-4 Measurement Samples

IL-4 measurement samples of Th17 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml), of Th1 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml), of Th2 cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml) and of Treg cells (2.5×10⁵ cells/ml) were prepared in the similar manner as the above paragraph “(6) Preparation of IL-17A measurement samples” except that an APC-labeled anti-IL-4 antibody (eBioscience) was used at a final concentration of 0.2 μg/ml instead of the PerCP-Cy5.5-labeled anti-IL-17A antibody.

A negative control sample (2.5×10⁶ cells/ml) was prepared by adding an APC-labeled rat IgG1 isotype control (BioLegend) to a final concentration of 1.0 μg/ml instead of the APC-labeled anti-IL-4 antibody and reacting at 4° C. for 20 minutes.

2. Expression Analysis of Protein Markers in Measurement samples using flow cytometer

The prepared measurement samples were analyzed by FACSCanto II (BD Bioscienct) and FACS DIVA software (BD Bioscience). Histograms (particle size distribution) of fluorescent intensities obtained by the analysis are shown in FIGS. 2 to 9, which correspond respectively to the histograms obtained from MCAM measurement samples, PTPRM measurement samples, GPR34 measurement samples, CCR6 measurement samples, IL-17A measurement samples, IFN-γ measurement samples, IL-4 measurement samples, and FOXP3 measurement samples. In FIGS. 2 to 9, the vertical axis of the histograms shows the number of cells and the horizontal axis shows the fluorescent intensity. The numbers at the upper right of the histograms correspond to the ratio (%) of positive cells for the marker gene relative to the number of total cells in the respective measurement samples. The cells were determined as positive or negative based on the maximal fluorescent intensity in the negative control. Namely, the cells having higher fluorescent intensity than the maximal fluorescent intensity of the negative control were determined as positive, while the cells having a fluorescent intensity equal to or lower than the maximal fluorescent intensity of the negative control were determined as negative. The ratio of positive cells was calculated as the ratio of the number of positive cells relative to the number of total cells.

CCR6 and IL-17A are known markers for Th17 cells. FIGS. 5 and 6 show that the expression levels of CCR6 and IL-17A proteins are high in Th17 cells. IFN-γ is a known marker for Th1 cells. FIG. 7 shows that the expression level of IFN-γ protein is high in Th1 cells. IL-4 is a known marker for Th2 cells. FIG. 8 shows that the expression level of IL-4 protein is high in Th2 cells. FOXP3 is a known marker for Treg cells. FIG. 9 shows that the expression level of FOXP3 protein is high in Treg cells. Thus, it is indicated that these measurement samples are suitable for expression analysis of protein markers.

FIGS. 2 to 4 show that the expression levels of MCAM, PTPRM and GPR34 proteins are high in Th17 cells. It is also found that the ratios of positive cells in the MCAM measurement sample, PTPRM measurement sample and GPR34 measurement sample of Th17 cells were equal to or higher than the ratios of positive cells in the CCR6 measurement sample and IL-17A measurement sample. This reveals that the proteins encoded by the genes MCAM, PTPRM and GPR34 which were identified in Example 1 as the polynucleotide markers for detecting Th17 cells can also be used as protein markers for detecting Th17 cells.

Example 3 Expression Analysis of Polynucleotide Markers for Detecting Th17 Cells by Real-Time PCR

1. Preparation of cDNA (1) Preparation of cDNA from Cells “without Activation Stimulation”

Total RNA (0.1 μg) of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” extracted in Example 1 under the paragraph “3. Extraction of total RNA” was reverse-transcribed with a poly dT primer (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.), random primers (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.) and Superscript III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen Corporation) to obtain cDNA of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”. Reverse transcription was carried out according to the attached instructions.

cDNAs of Th1 cells “without activation stimulation”, of Th2 cells “without activation stimulation” and of Treg cells “without activation stimulation” were prepared in the similar manner as above except that total RNAs (0.1 μg) of Th1 cells, Th2 cells and Treg cells “without activation stimulation” were used instead of total RNA (0.1 μg) of Th17 cells “without stimulation”.

The number of samples of the cells “without activation stimulation” used for preparation of cDNA is shown in Table 10.

TABLE 10 Th1 cells Th2 cells Th17 cells Treg cells w/o activation stimulation 5 5 5 4 (2) Preparation of cDNA from Cells “with Activation Stimulation”

Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” prepared in Example 1 under the paragraph “2. Cell culture” were prepared in 5% FBS/RPMI at 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. Th17 cells were stimulated by incubating the cells at 37° C. for 3 hours with T cell activation/expansion kit (Miltenyi Biotec). These Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” were subjected to extraction of total RNA in the same manner as Example 1, “3. Extraction of total RNA”. The extracted total RNA (0.1 μg) of Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” was reverse-transcribed with a poly dT primer (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.), random primers (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.) and Superscript III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen Corporation) to obtain cDNA of Th17 cells “with activation stimulation”. Reverse transcription was carried out according to the attached instructions.

cDNAs of Th1 cells “with activation stimulation”, of Th2 cells “with activation stimulation” and of Treg cells “with activation stimulation” were prepared in the similar manner as above except that total RNAs (0.1 μg) of Th1 cells, Th2 cells and Treg cells “with activation stimulation” were used instead of total RNA (0.1 μg) of Th17 cells “with activation stimulation”.

The number of samples of the cells “with activation stimulation” used for preparation of cDNA is shown in Table 11.

TABLE 11 Th1 cells Th2 cells Th17 cells Treg cells w/ activation stimulation 5 5 5 3

2. Design of Primer Sets

The following primer sets were designed with Primer3 software.

(1) Primer Sets for Detecting Th17 Cells

Primer sets were designed for the genes ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, L1CAM, MCAM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3, UNC13C, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, IL1A, BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2, which were detected in Example 1 as the polynucleotide markers for detecting Th17 cells.

(2) Primer Sets for Known Markers for Th17Cells

Primer sets were designed for known gene markers for Th17 cells, CCR6, RORC and IL-17A.

(3) Primer Sets for Known Markers for Th1 Cells

Primer sets were designed for known gene markers for Th1 cells, TBX21 and IFN-γ.

(4) Primer Sets for Known Markers for Th2 Cells

Primer sets were designed for known gene markers for Th2 cells, GATA3 and IL-4.

(5) Primer Sets for Known Markers for Treg Cells

Primer sets were designed for a known gene marker for Treg cells, FOXP3.

(6) Primer Sets for Internal Controls

Primer sets were designed for internal control genes, Gapdh, ACTB, B2M and UBC.

Designed primer sets are shown in Table 12.

TABLE 12 SEQ ID SEQ ID Gene symbol Forward primer NO: Reverse primer NO: ADAM12 TCTCCCTCGCTCGAAATTACA 181 CAGAATATCCCCGTACATGTCCAT 182 ATP6V0A4 TCCTTGAACATCTTTGGCTCTTC 183 TCCATGTGCCGTTTCTGAAC 184 ATP9A AGAGGAGCAGTATCAGGACTTTGAA 185 AGCGGTCGTGCACACTCA 186 BVES CGGCTTGCACCAGTTTCTTC 187 GCTCCTTCTTCTATCGGTTTCATC 188 C5orf40 TCGGAGGGCAGAGCTCTAAC 189 CCTCGATGTTCATCCCGATT 190 CDH4 GATCAGCCCCACTCTCCAAA 191 GATGGATCCCCACTGATGATG 192 DIO2 CATGATGCTAAGAGTCCTGGGTAA 193 TTCTGCAACTGAGAAGCACATATG 194 L1CAM CAAGGAGGGCCAGTGCAA 195 GAAGCCCCACCCTTCTCTTC 196 MCAM GGGCATCCCTGTGAACAGTAA 197 GGTACCCGTTCCTCCCTACAC 198 SHROOM2 TGCATGTTAATGGTGAGTGAATCC 199 TTGATCCAACAAATGCCCTAATAC 200 TMEM163 GGTCAAACTCCTCATCGACATG 201 CCCCTTCACTCAAACATCTCGTA 202 UPK1B CCAGTGGAAAAACAATGGAGTCA 203 ACAGCAATTGTCCTGGAGCAT 204 DRD2 CTGCTCATCGCTGTCATCGT 205 CGGGACACAGCCATGCA 206 PGBD5 AGAGTTTGAGAAGCAAGGGATTTACT 207 GGCCGGTGCAGTCACTCTT 208 ODZ4 GCCCACAGACTTAGCCATCA 209 TCCCGGCGACAATGC 210 SLC6A15 TGCCACCACCTATTACTGGTACA 211 AGTTTAAGCCCCCACTTTCAGAA 212 AKAP12 TCCATAGCTGGGTCTGGTGTAGA 213 TTCTTGATTGAGACCCAGGATTC 214 C9orf125 GAGAGGCTCCAGCACTACATCA 215 CTACACCAACCCATTCCAGGAT 216 POPDC3 TTCAGTTCCTGGATTCTCCTGAGT 217 CAGTGAGGGTTACCTGAAAAATGC 218 UNC13C TCAGGGACCAACCACCAAGA 219 CAGGACAGGTGTGTAGGCAGTTT 220 PCOLCE2 CCACCACATTCCCTGTAACCA 221 TCCGTCTACACTTTTGTTGACACA 222 PNOC CTCAGTCTCTTCTCCAGTGTGTTCA 223 GGAGCTTCTCCTGGCATGTG 224 TGFBI GGGCGGCAAAAAACTGAGA 225 CCGCGATGCAGCTGTTCT 226 IL1A CAATTGTATGTGACTGCCCAAGA 227 TGGGTATCTCAGGCATCTCCTT 228 BHLHE22 TGCTCCCCACCCCCTTTA 229 CTGCTTTGTTTGCTCTGCAAGT 230 PPARG CCTGAGCCACTGCCAACATT 231 AGGTGTCAGATTTTCCCTCAGAAT 232 SIM1 CATGCCTCACATCGCTTCAG 233 CCACACTATCTTCATCCCAATGAC 234 SNAI2 CTTGCCCTCACTGCAACAGA 235 TCTGCAGATGAGCCCTCAGA 236 TBX21 GATGCGCCAGGAAGTTTCA 237 GACGCCCCCTTGTTGTTTG 238 GATA3 GCGGGCTCTATCACAAAATGA 239 GCCTTCGCTTGGGCTTAAT 240 FOXP3 CACCTGGCTGGGAAAATGG 241 GGAGCCCTTGTCGGATGAT 242 CCR6 GGCAGTTCTCCAGGCTATTTGT 243 GGAGGCCAAAGACACAGATCA 244 RORC CCAAGGCTCAGTCATGAGAACA 245 GCGGAAGAAGCCGTTGCA 246 IFNG CCAACGCAAAGCAATACATGA 247 CGAAACAGCATCTGACTCCTTTT 248 IL4 TGGGTCTCACCTCCCAACTG 249 GCCGGCACATGCTAGCA 250 IL17A CCCAAAAGGTCCTCAGATTACTACA 251 CATTGCGGTGGAGATTCCA 252 GAPDH ACCCACTCCTCCACCTTTGA 253 TTGCTGTAGCCAAATTCGTTGT 254 ACTB CAGCAGATGTGGATCAGCAAG 255 GCATTTGCGGTGGACGAT 256 B2M TGCTGTCTCCATGTTTGATGTATCT 257 TCTCTGCTCCCCACCTCTAAGT 258 UBC GTCGCAGCCGGGATTTG 259 GCATTGTCAAGTGACGATCACA 260

3. Expression Analysis of Gene Markers by Real-Time PCR

(1) Real-Time PCR Using cDNAs of Cells “without Activation Stimulation” as Templates

cDNAs of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples in the above “1. Preparation of cDNA” were respectively used as a template. The primer sets used were the primer sets for ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, L1CAM, MCAM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5, ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3, UNC13C, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, IL1A, BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1, SNAI2, TBX21, GATA3, FOXP3, CCR6, RORC, GAPDH, ACTB, B2M and UBC, which were designed as described in “2. Design of primer sets”. Real-time PCR was carried out with the template, primer sets and Power SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems) in 7300 Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) and Ct value of each gene was measured. PCR was carried out at 50° C. for 2 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutes followed by 45 cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute and two cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute. Ct value was measured by automatic calculation on 7300 Fast SDS software (Applied Biosystems).

Real-time PCR was also carried out in the similar manner as above except that cDNAs of Th1 cells “without activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples, cDNAs of Th2 cells “without activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples and cDNAs of Treg cells “without activation stimulation” obtained from 4 samples were used as a template instead of cDNAs of Th17 cells “without activation stimulation”, and Ct values for the genes were measured.

(2) Real-Time PCR Using cDNAs of Cells “with Activation Stimulation” as Templates

cDNAs of Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples in the above “1. Preparation of cDNA” were used as a template. The primer sets used were the primer sets for AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3, UNC13C, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, IFNG, IL4, IL17A, GAPDH, ACTB, B2M and UBC, which were designed as described in “2. Design of primer sets”. Real-time PCR was carried out with the template, primer sets and Power SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems) in 7300 Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) and Ct value of each gene was measured. PCR was carried out at 50° C. for 2 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutes followed by 45 cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute and two cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute. Ct value was measured by automatic calculation on 7300 Fast SDS software (Applied Biosystems).

Real-time PCR was also carried out in the similar manner as above except that cDNAs of Th1 cells “with activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples, cDNAs of Th2 cells “with activation stimulation” obtained from 5 samples and cDNAs of Treg cells “with activation stimulation” obtained from 3 samples were used as a template instead of cDNAs of Th17 cells “with activation stimulation”, and Ct values for the genes were measured.

(3) Analysis of Expression Level

Based on the Ct values obtained from real-time PCR, expression levels of the gene markers were calculated according to the formula (I):

(Expression level of a gene)=100000×2^(−y)  (I)

wherein: y=(Ct value of a gene)−(((Ct value of Gapdh gene)+(Ct value of ACTB gene)+(Ct value of B2M gene)+(Ct value of UBC gene))/4)

The expression level of each gene marker in Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from five cDNAs used as templates. The expression level of each gene marker in Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” was also obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from five cDNAs used as templates.

Similarly, the expression level of each gene marker in Th1 cells or Th2 cells “without activation stimulation” or “with activation stimulation” was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from five cDNAs used as templates. The expression level of each gene marker in Treg cells “without activation expression” was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from four cDNAs used as templates. The expression level of each gene marker in Treg cells “with activation stimulation” was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from three cDNAs used as templates.

Expression levels of the gene markers are shown in Tables 13 and 14. Table 13 shows expression levels of gene markers in Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” and Table 14 shows expression levels of gene markers in Th1, Th2, Treg and Th17 cells “with activation stimulation”

Expression Levels of Gene Markers in the Cells “without Activation Stimulation”

TABLE 13 Location of Expression level encoded protein Gene symbol Th1 Th2 Treg Th17 Membrane ADAM12 9.95 0.55 22.08 193.83 ATP6V0A4 35.21 2.55 7.17 625.03 ATP9A 125.11 9.08 41.42 407.43 BVES 23.85 3.58 6.84 77.99 C5orf40 0.74 0.00 33.36 107.84 CDH4 4.93 7.47 29.44 143.90 DIO2 0.46 1.25 0.91 10.40 L1CAM 41.95 45.03 72.77 220.54 MCAM 62.69 18.93 159.46 500.64 SHROOM2 0.22 0.46 0.90 11.44 TMEM163 13.77 8.78 24.25 249.56 UPK1B 2.94 0.12 0.55 22.59 DRD2 51.14 49.86 58.21 884.06 PGBD5 10.30 11.96 19.04 157.52 ODZ4 1.14 0.44 0.39 41.82 SLC6A15 0.50 3.46 2.65 27.71 AKAP12 29.57 30.67 46.71 110.16 C9orf125 1.31 0.50 3.43 39.73 POPDC3 0.23 0.00 0.52 10.19 UNC13C 0.08 0.08 0.27 12.10 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 0.60 0.00 2.59 15.64 secreted PNOC 8.01 25.75 5.43 335.81 TGFBI 58.45 31.18 253.89 1427.38 IL1A 13.47 47.92 128.89 502.06 Intracellular BHLHE22 32.48 13.80 29.69 247.81 PPARG 120.16 16.40 92.84 456.67 SIM1 143.63 229.39 40.78 837.78 SNAI2 0.15 0.03 4.20 69.35 Known markers TBX21 4851.97 21.94 513.23 26.92 GATA3 1820.22 5684.93 4811.71 1353.37 FOXP3 471.34 250.11 21799.93 334.68 CCR6 102.73 42.69 939.98 401.01 RORC 96.77 3.75 328.99 788.05

Expression Levels of Gene Markers in the Cells “with Activation Stimulation

TABLE 14 Location of encoded Gene Expression level protein symbol Th1 Th2 Treg Th17 Membrane AKAP12 34.55 59.13 40.36 201.43 C9orf125 0.51 0.00 1.92 35.77 POPDC3 7.28 2.60 3.42 28.09 UNC13C 0.04 0.36 1.76 11.11 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 1.01 0.36 2.04 20.82 secreted PNOC 10.33 28.87 0.63 289.07 TGFBI 39.99 6.24 86.85 861.02 Known IFNG 191944.46 393.70 1593.07 1118.25 markers IL4 4011.14 8401.51 329.94 108.98 IL17A 84.43 458.57 1600.38 34052.24

Expression levels of gene markers in Th17 cells and ratios thereof relative to the expression levels of the gene markers in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells are shown in Tables 15 and 16. Table 15 shows expression levels of gene markers in Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” and ratios thereof relative to the expression levels of the gene markers in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”. Table 16 shows expression levels of gene markers in Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” and ratios thereof relative to the expression levels of the gene markers in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “with activation stimulation”. The values shown in the columns of Th17/Th1, Th17/Th2 and Th17/Treg in Tables 15 and 16 were calculated as follows:

Th17/Th1=(Expression level in Th17 cells)/(Expression level in Th1 cells)

Th17/Th2=(Expression level in Th17 cells)/(Expression level in Th2 cells)

Th17/Treg=(Expression level in Th17 cells)/(Expression level in Treg cells)

TABLE 15 Location of Expression ratio encoded protein Gene symbol Th17/Th1 Th17/Th2 Th17/Treg Membrane ADAM12 19.49 352.65 8.78 ATP6V0A4 17.75 245.31 87.13 ATP9A 3.26 44.86 9.84 BVES 3.27 21.80 11.41 C5orf40 144.92 ∞ 3.23 CDH4 29.17 19.26 4.89 DIO2 22.83 8.34 11.42 L1CAM 5.26 4.90 3.03 MCAM 7.99 26.44 3.14 SHROOM2 53.13 24.85 12.71 TMEM163 18.13 28.42 10.29 UPK1B 7.69 191.37 41.23 DRD2 17.29 17.73 15.19 PGBD5 15.30 13.17 8.27 ODZ4 36.59 94.68 106.41 SLC6A15 55.24 8.01 10.47 AKAP12 3.72 3.59 2.36 C9orf125 30.34 79.90 11.59 POPDC3 44.01 ∞ 19.75 UNC13C 152.73 157.50 44.10 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 25.86 4097.03 6.04 secreted PNOC 41.93 13.04 61.86 TGFBI 24.42 45.77 5.62 IL1A 37.28 10.48 3.90 Intracellular BHLHE22 7.63 17.96 8.35 PPARG 3.80 27.85 4.92 SIM1 5.83 3.65 20.54 SNAI2 466.76 2536.05 16.52 Known markers TBX21 0.01 1.23 0.05 GATA3 0.74 0.24 0.28 FOXP3 0.71 1.34 0.02 CCR6 3.90 9.39 0.43 RORC 8.14 210.37 2.40

TABLE 16 Location of Expression ratio encoded protein Gene symbol Th27/Th1 Th17/Th2 Th17/Treg Membrane AKAP12 5.83 3.41 4.99 C9orf125 69.61 ∞ 18.59 POPDC3 3.86 10.79 8.20 UNC13C 266.35 31.25 6.30 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 20.54 58.21 10.22 secreted PNOC 27.99 10.01 456.13 TGFBI 21.53 138.01 9.91 Known markers IFN-γ 0.01 2.84 0.70 IL-4 0.03 0.01 0.33 IL-17A 403.31 74.26 21.28

Table 15 shows that the expression levels of ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, L1CAM, MCAM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5, ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3, UNC13C, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, IL1A, BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2 in Th17 cells “without activation stimulation” are two or more times higher than that in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “without activation stimulation”.

Table 16 shows that the expression levels of AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3, UNC13C, PCOLCE2, PNOC and TGFBI in Th17 cells “with activation stimulation” are two or more times higher than that in Th1, Th2 and Treg cells “with activation stimulation”.

Thus, it is demonstrated that these genes are useful as polynucleotide markers for detecting Th17 cells.

Example 4 Expression Analysis of Polynucleotide Markers in Healthy Subjects and Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

1. Isolation of CD4 Positive Cells from Peripheral Blood of Healthy Subjects and Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Peripheral blood from healthy adults (healthy subjects) and patients with rheumatoid arthritis was collected in blood collecting tubes NP-HE0557 (NIPRO) and peripheral blood CD4 positive cells were isolated with magnetic beads bound to anti-CD4 antibody (Miltenyi Biotec). Isolation of CD4 positive cells using anti-CD4 antibody beads was carried out according to the attached instruction.

2. Preparation of cDNA from Peripheral Blood CD4 Positive Cells

Total RNA was extracted from the isolated peripheral blood CD4 positive cells in the same manner as Example 1, “3. Extraction of total RNA”. The extracted total RNA (0.1 μg) of peripheral blood CD4 positive cells were reverse-transcribed with a poly dT primer (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.), random primers (Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.) and Superscript III reverse transcriptase (Invitrogen Corporation) to obtain cDNA of peripheral blood CD4 positive cells. Reverse transcription was carried out according to the attached instructions.

The number of samples of peripheral blood CD4 positive cells used for preparation of cDNA is shown in Table 17.

TABLE 17 Healthy Patient with subject rheumatoid arthritis w/o activation stimulation 9 9

3. Expression Analysis of Gene Markers by Real-Time PCR

(1) Real-Time PCR Using cDNAs of Peripheral Blood CD4 Positive Cells as Templates

cDNAs of peripheral blood CD4 positive cells obtained from nine healthy subjects and nine patients with rheumatoid arthritis as prepared in the above “2. Preparation of cDNA from peripheral blood CD4 positive cells” were used as templates. The primer sets used were the primer sets for ATP6V0A4, BVES, C5orf40, UPK1B, DRD2, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, BHLHE22, SIM1, CCR6, RORC, GAPDH, ACTB, B2M, and UBC, which were designed as described in “2. Design of primer sets”. Real-time PCR was carried out with the template, primer sets and Power SYBR Green PCR Master Mix (Applied Biosystems) in 7300 Real Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems) and Ct value of each gene was measured. PCR was carried out at 50° C. for 2 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutes followed by 45 cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute and two cycles of 95° C. for 15 seconds and 60° C. for 1 minute. Ct value was measured by automatic calculation on 7300 Fast SDS software (Applied Biosystems).

(2) Analysis of Expression Level

Expression levels of the gene markers were calculated according to the above formula (I). The expression level of each gene marker in peripheral blood CD4 positive cells of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from nine cDNAs used as templates. Similarly, the expression level of each gene marker in peripheral blood CD4 positive cells of the healthy subjects was obtained as an average of the expression levels of the gene marker in question obtained from nine cDNAs used as templates.

Expression levels of the gene markers in peripheral blood CD4 positive cells from healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis and expression ratios of the gene markers between peripheral blood CD4 positive cells of healthy subjects and patients with rheumatoid arthritis are shown in Table 18. In Table 18, “RA” denotes patients with rheumatoid arthritis and “HC” denotes healthy subjects. The values shown in the column RA group/HC group were calculated as follows:

RA group/HC group=(Expression level in peripheral blood CD4 positive cells of patients with rheumatoid arthritis)/(Expression level in peripheral blood CD4 positive cells of healthy subjects)

TABLE 18 Location of encoded Gene Expression level Expression ratio protein symbol HC group RA group RA group/HC group Membrane ATP6V0A4 6.44 52.16 8.10 BVES 0.08 32.79 403.57 C5orf40 0.04 21.60 496.29 UPK1B 0.31 39.65 126.98 DRD2 59.42 243.55 4.10 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 0.07 4.94 70.29 secreted PNOC 18.89 73.38 3.88 TGFBI 1651.40 5413.26 3.28 Intracellular BHLHE22 3.15 27.75 8.81 SIM1 4.75 20.73 4.36 Known CCR6 3136.22 4316.17 1.38 markers RORC 528.64 421.20 0.80

Table 18 shows that the expression levels of ATP6V0A4, BVES, C5orf40, UPK1B, DRD2, PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI, BHLHE22 and SIM1 in the RA group were three or more times higher than that in the HC group. This indicates that these genes are useful as polynucleotide markers for screening of patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Example 5 Analysis of Expression Ratios of Polynucleotide Markers in Cultured Th17 and Th22 Cells Derived from Human Peripheral Blood

1. Isolation of Th17 and Th22 Cells from Human Peripheral Blood

Buffy coat obtained from peripheral blood of a healthy adult was overlaid on Ficoll-paque plus solution (GE Healthcare Bioscience) and centrifuged to obtain a monocyte fraction. Crude CD4 positive cells were purified from the fraction by using magnetic beads bound to anti-CD4 antibody (Miltenyi Biotec).

The obtained CD4 positive cells were stained with the fluorescence labeled antibodies shown in Table 19 and then Th17 and Th22 cells were separated by a cell sorter (FACS Aria: Becton Dickinson). The separation was carried out with the gating shown in Table 20.

TABLE 19 Antigen Fluorescent labeling substance Clone Manufacturer CD4 APC-Cy7 RPA-T4 BD Biosciences CD25 PE-Cy7 BC96 eBioscience CXCR3 Alexa Fluor ™ 488 1C6/CXCR3 BD Biosciences CCR4 APC FAB1567A R&D systems CCR6 PE 11A9 BD Biosciences CD45RA APC HI100 BioLegend CCR10 PE 6588-5 BioLegend

TABLE 20 Cell Gating Th17 CD4^(high) CD25^(low-negative) CXCR3⁻CCR6⁺CCR4⁺ Th22 CD4^(high) CD25^(low-negative) CD45RA⁻CXCR3⁻CCR10⁺

The above gating is described in detail in the reference by Acosta-Rodriguez E V et al. (Surface phenotype and antigenic specificity of human interleukin 17-producing T helper memory cells., Nat. Immunol., vol. 8, p. 639-646 (2007)).

2. Th17 and Th22 Cell Cultures

Th17 and Th22 cells derived from adult peripheral blood obtained in the above step 1. were respectively plated in a 96-well plate at the density of 1.5×10⁵ cells/0.3 ml/well. The medium used was Yssel medium (IMDM, 1% human serum of AB-type, 0.25% BSA, 1.8 mg/l 2-aminomethanol, 40 mg/l transferrin, 5 mg/l insulin, 2 mg/l linoleic acid, 2 mg/l oleic acid, 2 mg/l palmitic acid, 1% penicillin/streptomycin).

For activation and proliferation of the above cells, magnetic beads coated with anti-CD2/3/28 antibody (Miltenyi Biotec) (hereinafter also referred to as “antibody beads”) were added at 0.75×10⁵ per well. After addition of cytokines and neutralizing antibodies suitable for differentiation culture of respective Th17 and Th22 cells, cells were incubated in an incubator at 37° C. with 5% CO₂. Cytokines and neutralizing antibodies used are shown in Table 21.

TABLE 21 Cell Cytokine Neutralizing antibody (clone) Th17 TGF-β1, IL-6, IL-23, Anti-IL-4 antibody (MP4-25D2), IL-21, IL-1β, TNFα, IL-2 Anti-IFN-γ antibody (R4-6A2) Th22 IL-6, TNFα, IL-2 Anti-IL-4 antibody (MP4-25D2), Anti-IFN-γ antibody (R4-6A2), Anti-TGF β antibody (9016)

The concentrations of the above cytokines were 50 ng/ml for IL-6 and 10 ng/ml for other than IL-6. The concentrations of antibodies were 10 μg/ml for anti-IFN-γ antibody, 2.5 μg/ml for anti-IL-4 antibody and 2.5 μg/ml for anti-TGF-β antibody.

The cytokines and neutralizing antibodies were obtained from R&D systems and eBioscience, respectively.

After three days from the start of culture, cells were diluted three-fold with the medium containing the above cytokines and antibodies and cultured for further seven days (10 days in total).

After ten days from the start of culture, the obtained Th17 and Th22 cells were respectively divided into two equal parts, and one was washed with Yssel medium and PBS before centrifugation to collect cells, which were stored at −80° C. until the subsequent RNA extraction step. These cells were designated as Th17 and Th22 cells “without activation stimulation”. The other half was added with the antibody beads and cultured for three more hours to re-activate the cells. The cells were collected by centrifugation and similarly stored at −80° C. These cells were designated as Th17 and Th22 cells “with activation stimulation”.

3. Extraction of Total RNA

The cells obtained as the above step 2. were subjected to extraction of total RNAs using RNeasy Plus Mini kit and RNeasy micro kit (QIAGEN). The specific procedures were according to the attached instructions of the kits.

4. Expression Analysis by Microarray

Total RNAs (10 to 100 ng) extracted from the cells as the above step 3. were reverse-transcribed to cDNAs with Two-Cycle Target Labeling and Control Reagents (Affymetrix), and further transcribed to biotinylated-cRNAs. The amplified biotinylated-cRNAs (20 μg) were fragmented. The specific procedures were according to the attached instructions of the kit.

The biotinylated-cRNAs derived from the cells as obtained above (15 μg) were applied to GeneChip Human Genome U-133 Plus 2.0 Array (Affymetrix) as samples, transferred to GeneChip Hybridization Oven 640 (Affymetrix) and hybridized under the conditions of 45° C. and 60 rpm for 16 hours.

After completion of the hybridization, the microarray was washed and fluorescence-labeled in GeneChip Fluidic Station 450 (Affymetrix), and scanned in GeneChip Scanner 3000 7G (Affymetrix) to obtain fluorescent intensity data.

The fluorescent data obtained were standardized with the expression analysis software GeneSpring Ver.11 (Agilent Technologies) based on MAS5 algorithm to obtain relative fluorescent intensities of the genes in the cells. The relative fluorescent intensities correspond to the expression levels of the genes in these cells.

Tables 22 and 23 show the results of the relative fluorescent intensities of the genes corresponding to the polynucleotide markers in Th17 cells obtained in Example 1 compared to those in Th22 cells. Table 22 shows expression ratios of the polynucleotide markers in Th17 and Th22 cells “without activation stimulation” and Table 23 shows expression ratios of the polynucleotide markers in Th17 and Th22 cells “with activation stimulation”. In the tables, values in the column “Th17/Th22” correspond to the values obtained by dividing the relative fluorescent intensity of a gene corresponding to a polynucleotide marker in Th17 cells by that in Th22 cells.

TABLE 22 Location of Expression ratio encoded protein Gene symbol Th22/Th17 Membrane ADAM12 11.1 ATP6V0A4 521.3 ATP9A 33.9 BVES 3.5 C5orf40 7.7 CDH4 12.5 DIO2 10.6 MCAM 10.5 SHROOM2 5.2 TMEM163 5.6 3.8 UPK1B 9.2 DRD2 5.8 LOC100134440, PGBD5 14.5 ODZ4 8.2 SLC6A15 12.2 AKAP12 17.2 36.1 C9orf125 3.3 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 9.0 secreted PNOC 38.5 TGFBI 182.0 IL1A 17.7 Intracellular BHLHE22 108.3 PPARG 13.6 SIM1 4.6 5.0 SNAI2 8.2 Membrane PTPRM 36.3

TABLE 23 Location of Expression ratio encoded protein Gene symbol Th17/Th22 Membrane AKAP12 12.8 22.9 C9orf125 6.8 POPDC3 5.4 Extracellular/ PCOLCE2 11.9 secreted PNOC 8.5 TGFBI 367.4 Membrane GPR34 28.2

Tables 22 and 23 clearly indicate that the polynucleotide markers in Th17 cells obtained in Example 1 are expressed three or more times higher in Th17 cells than in Th22 cells. Thus, it is demonstrated that the polynucleotide markers shown in Tables 22 and 23 are useful for detection of Th17 cells. 

1. A polynucleotide marker for detecting human IL-17-producing helper T-cells which is a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12, ANKS1B, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, DMD, GPR34, IRS2, KCNE3, L1CAM, MCAM, MFAP3L, MYO7A, PTPRM, SHROOM2, SLC16A4, SLCO2B1, TANC2, TJP1, TMEM163, TNS3, UPK1B, WDFY3, DRD2, GJC1, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), MS4A7, ODZ4, PHKA1, RGS1, SHB, SLC44A3, SLC6A15, SYNGR3, AKAP12, C9orf125, DPY19L2, HRH4, MUC20, POPDC3, SORBS1, TANC1, TMEM44 and UNC13C; genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: CXCL13, PCOLCE2, PNOC, SMPDL3A, TGFBI, C17orf99, EBI3, IL1A and WNT3; genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of: BCAT1, BHLHE22, C13orf18 (LOC728970), CA2, CCDC3, CDS1, CHN1, CLIC5 (LOC100131610), CTSH, CYP7B1, DAPK2, DMRT1, DSE, FBXL17, FBXL21, FHOD3, H2AFY2, HLX, IRAK3, MACC1, MAML3, MYO10, OTUB2, PAPSS2, PCBP3, PDE4DIP, PLD1, PPARG, PTPN13, RGS18, SIM1, SNAI2, SOX2, SPIRE1, TBC1D12, TGM5, TMOD1, TUBB6, DDIT4L, DHRS9, ERC2, FERMT2, HHEX, HS3ST1, NR5A2, PHLDA1, RBM20, NINL, RTN2, SH3RF2, TSHZ2, EML1, HIST1H2BC, MAP3K4, PDK4, RGS2 and RGS20; genes consisting of: C1orf106, C6orf145, LOC401097, MAMLD1, ZC3H12C, C12orf64, C6orf168, CAMSAP1L1 and MAGED4 (MAGED4B); and genes comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NO: 147 to 151, 157 to 162 and 167 to 174; or a variant and fragment thereof.
 2. The marker according to claim 1, which is a polynucleotide having a nucleic acid sequence of at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, GPR34, L1CAM, MCAM, PTPRM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3 and UNC13C; genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI and IL1A; and genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2.
 3. A protein marker for detecting human IL-17-producing helper T-cells which is a protein encoded by at least one gene according to claim 1 or a functionally equivalent variant and fragment thereof.
 4. The marker according to claim 3, which is a protein encoded by at least one gene selected from the group consisting of: genes encoding membrane proteins consisting of: ADAM12, ATP6V0A4, ATP9A, BVES, C5orf40, CDH4, DIO2, GPR34, L1CAM, MCAM, PTPRM, SHROOM2, TMEM163, UPK1B, DRD2, PGBD5 (LOC100134440), ODZ4, SLC6A15, AKAP12, C9orf125, POPDC3 and UNC13C; genes encoding secretory proteins consisting of: PCOLCE2, PNOC, TGFBI and IL1A; and genes encoding intracellular proteins consisting of: BHLHE22, PPARG, SIM1 and SNAI2.
 5. The marker according to claim 4, wherein the protein is a membrane protein encoded by at least one gene selected from the group consisting of GPR34, MCAM and PTPRM.
 6. A method for detecting human IL-17-producing helper T-cells comprising detecting the presence of at least one polynucleotide marker for detecting human Th17 cells according to claim 1 or at least one protein marker which is a protein encoded by at least one gene according to claim 1 or a functionally equivalent variant and fragment thereof in a sample containing cells derived from human.
 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the polynucleotide marker is detected with a nucleic acid probe that specifically hybridizes to the polynucleotide marker.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the nucleic acid probe is a primer set for amplifying the polynucleotide marker by a nucleic acid amplification method.
 9. The method according to claim 6, wherein the protein marker is detected with a nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor that specifically binds to the protein marker.
 10. A reagent for detecting human IL-17-producing helper T-cells comprising at least one substance selected from a nucleic acid probe that specifically hybridizes to the polynucleotide marker according to claim 1; and a nucleic acid aptamer, antibody, ligand or receptor that specifically binds to a protein marker which is a protein encoded by at least one gene according to claim 1 or a functionally equivalent variant and fragment thereof. 